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Aeschylus · c. 525-456 BC

Prometheus Bound

Προμηθεὺς δεσμώτης
Ancient Sources / Aeschylus / Prometheus Bound

Read our guide to Prometheus Bound

Prometheus Bound is set on a rock at the edge of the world, where the Titan Prometheus is chained for giving fire to mortals against the will of Zeus. Almost the whole play is spoken by the chained god, who is visited by the Oceanids, Oceanus, the wandering Io and finally Hermes. The sections follow the play's own units (prologue, parodos, episodes and choral songs) and keep the standard line numbers of the Greek text.

Read from the start
Text
Greek original with English translation, 12 passages, about 9700 words in English.
Translator
Herbert Weir Smyth (modernised by Perseus) (1922)
Edition
Greek text: Herbert Weir Smyth (ed. and trans.), Aeschylus, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1922, as digitised by Perseus. English: Herbert Weir Smyth, Aeschylus, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1922 (Perseus's modernised version of Smyth's prose translation)
Cite as
Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound 1 (by line number)

Contents · 12 passages

  1. 1–87Prologue: Prometheus is nailed to the rock840 words
  2. 88–195Parodos: Prometheus' cry and the arrival of the Oceanids802 words
  3. 196–278First episode: why Zeus punishes Prometheus810 words
  4. 279–398First episode (cont.): Oceanus offers to intercede1086 words
  5. 399–525First stasimon and Prometheus' gifts to mankind1029 words
  6. 526–608Second stasimon: the Chorus' warning; Io arrives603 words
  7. 609–686Second episode: Io tells her story767 words
  8. 687–785Second episode (cont.): the wanderings of Io (1)962 words
  9. 786–876Second episode (cont.): the wanderings of Io (2) and her descendants860 words
  10. 877–943Third stasimon and Prometheus' defiance; Hermes arrives618 words
  11. 944–1006Exodos: Hermes demands the secret621 words
  12. 1007–1093Exodos: Hermes' threat and the earthquake697 words

More by Aeschylus

English translation by Herbert Weir Smyth (modernised by Perseus) (1922). Original text: Greek text: Herbert Weir Smyth (ed. and trans.), Aeschylus, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1922, as digitised by Perseus. English: Herbert Weir Smyth, Aeschylus, Loeb Classical Library, London: William Heinemann, 1922 (Perseus's modernised version of Smyth's prose translation).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.