Prometheus Bound

by

Aeschylus

Prometheus Bound Characters

Prometheus

A Titan god and the protagonist of Prometheus Bound. As the play opens, Prometheus is being bound to the face of the Scythian mountains by “unbreakable” chains, his punishment from Zeus for stealing… read analysis of Prometheus

Zeus

The ruler of the Olympian gods and the antagonist of Prometheus Bound. Zeus as an actual character never makes it into Aeschylus’s play, but his violent wrath and immense power are present throughout. Zeus… read analysis of Zeus

Io

A mortal princess and Zeus’s lover. Io comes across Prometheus as he is chained to the mountain. Io has been transformed into a cow by Zeus and turned out by Hera, Zeus’s jealous… read analysis of Io

Okeanos

The Titan god of oceans and streams. Okeanos goes to Prometheus’s aid when Prometheus is chained to the mountain, and intends to go to Zeus and appeal to him on Prometheus’s behalf. Like his… read analysis of Okeanos

Kratos (Might)

Zeus’s servant and the personification of Zeus’s will. Along with Bia, Kratos takes Prometheus and Hephaistos to the top of the Scythian mountains so that Hephaistos can chain Prometheus to the mountain as… read analysis of Kratos (Might)
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Hephaistos

The god of fire and blacksmithing. Hephaistos is ordered by Zeus to bind Prometheus to the top of the Scythian mountains using “unbreakable” chains. Hephaistos is made to bind Prometheus not only because Prometheus… read analysis of Hephaistos

The Chorus

The daughters of Okeanos. Okeanos’s daughters are also known as the Oceanids in Greek mythology, and they are typically represented as three thousand sea nymphs. The chorus are the first to come upon Prometheusread analysis of The Chorus

Hermes

Zeus’s son and the messenger of the gods. Hermes visits Prometheus on Zeus’s behalf while Prometheus is bound to the mountain, and he tells him that his suffering will increase by a “threefold tidal… read analysis of Hermes

Bia (Force)

Zeus’s servant and the personification of Zeus’s violent will. Bia doesn’t speak during the play, and like Zeus’s violence, he offers no excuse or explanation. He is ordered to take an imprisoned Prometheus to… read analysis of Bia (Force)

Hera

Zeus’s wife and sister. Hera is the goddess of family and childbirth, and she is exceedingly jealous of Zeus’s love for Io. According to myth, Zeus tried to hide Io from Hera by… read analysis of Hera

The Furies

The female gods of vengeance in Greek mythology. The Furies are often interpreted as the embodiment of curses, and they serve a similar purpose in Prometheus Bound. Prometheus tells the chorus that Kronos had… read analysis of The Furies

Kronos

King of the Titans and Zeus’s father. Kronos refuses Prometheus’s help during the Battle of the Titans and instead relies on his strength to win the war. Zeus, of course, is victorious thanks… read analysis of Kronos

Atlas

A Titan god and Prometheus’s brother. According to Greek mythology, Zeus ordered Atlas punished after the Battle of the Titans, and he was forced to stand holding “the weight of heaven and earth”… read analysis of Atlas

Typhon

A monster serpent within Greek mythology. Typhon’s origins are disputed; some sources claim Typhon is the offspring of Hera while others claim he is the son of Kronos. According to Greek mythology, Typhon challenged… read analysis of Typhon

Argos

Hera’s servant. After Zeus turned Io into a cow, Hera ordered Argos to guard Io and keep her away from Zeus. According to Greek mythology, Argos is covered with a hundred eyes, and he… read analysis of Argos
Minor Characters
Heracles
The son of Zeus and descendant of Io. Heracles is the epitome of masculinity, and he is the strongest of the gods. According to Prometheus Bound, Heracles will shoot the eagle that feeds on Prometheus’s liver and break the chains that bind him.
Themis
A Titan goddess and Prometheus’s mother. Themis gifted her son “foresight,” which allows him to see into the future.
Hades
Zeus’s brother and the Olympian god of the dead and king of the underworld.