There's lots to think about in Edith Hamilton's chapter on how the world and mankind were created. What surprises me is how some of the stories parallel Bible stories. The names and events may different but the general idea is there, which just goes to show you how some stories really aren't all that new and that humans have enjoyed retelling and riffing on the same themes from the very beginning of mankind. And I've finally formally been introduced to Prometheus, who I first encountered via Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (who was the 'modern' Prometheus) without really knowing how he fit into Greek Mythology.
The Greeks had several creation stories. I think I mentioned Chaos in one of my earlier posts. He came before the gods and it was his children, Night and Erebus (where "death dwells") who bore Love. And with Love came beauty and order and Day. It's not entirely clear how all this came about, but Hesiod (one of the earlier Greek poets) tells us that Heaven and Earth were created--a place for the gods to inhabit.
Earth, however, was a pretty scary place initially (sort of like the earth being populated by the dinosaurs). Unlike the dinosaurs, though, the Greeks believed that monsters similar to men (though not human) were the first inhabitants and they had powers much like earthquakes, hurricanes and volcanoes. These horrible creatures took the form of monsters with a hundred hands and fifty heads, or Cyclops, which were giants with one great eye and Titans, who've popped up already and later a race of Giants from which Cronus came.
Cronus became the lord of all and it was foretold that one of his sons would dethrone him, so he planned to eat them (see Goya). By the time the sixth child was born, his wife Rhea had had enough and gave him a rock to swallow instead. Zeus was the son (later he forced Cronus to cough up the stone), and up came the other sons. I'm leaving out all the good, bloody detail, but this would have all been a messy affair. Suffice it to say that Zeus then took his place at the top of Mount Olympus.
So we have Heaven and Earth and now it's time for mankind to make his appearance (and I do say man as men came first here, too). Here is where Prometheus (a son of one of the Titans) comes in. He, along with his brother Epimetheus, backed Zeus in his efforts to defeat his enemies. Prometheus was the wise one and Epimetheus was the scatterbrain. Unfortunately it was epimetheus who created men.
"Before making men he gave all the best gifts to the animals, strength and swiftness and courage and shrewd cunning, fur and feathers and wings and shells and the like--until no good was left for men, no protective covering and no quality to make them a match for beasts."
Prometheus had to come to his aid and make a few improvements, so he made man walk upright and gave them a "nobler shape". He also gave them fire from the sun, which was far better than anything the animals had.
You're probably already familiar with Pandora and her story. Much like Eve I think she gets a bad rap. Women were created by Zeus because he thought Prometheus cared too much about men (meaning caring more about men than the gods and letting men have all the goodies). Zeus decided to take his revenge, so he made Pandora, which means "the gift of all". She didn't turn out to be much of a gift, alas, since her curiosity in opening the dreaded box unleashed nasty plagues and other sorts of mischief. The only upshot to it all was the box also contained Hope.
Like the Bible there is a Deluge story in Greek Mythology, too. In another creation story men had become so wicked Zeus decided to do away with them by sending an awful flood. There was only one small spot, Parnassus, that escaped the waters and here Prometheus's son and niece were saved. They were known as the Stone People, pious followers of the gods so Zeus took pity on them.
Next week a little on the earliest heroes.