Prometheus

Prometheus was a descendent of the Titans in the stories of the Greek gods. Titans were giant deities, older than the Olympian gods, but who’d been defeated by these more socially sophisticated arrivals.

Prometheus is credited with the creation of man from clay. He didn’t like how Zeus, who self appointed himself as supreme ruler, unjustly treated mankind. To protect humanity from unjust requirements, he tricked Zeus into only requiring the bones from animals in sacrifices to himself, to ensure humans could retain the valuable parts of meat for their difficult lives and labor. 

In response, Zeus, tyrannically punished mankind for Promethieus’s trickery by hiding the use of fire from them. Prometheus begged Zeus to share fire with them again, saying “I did not live amid the clouds, so I witnessed mankind living in caves and holes, dying of starvation, and being hunted by beasts. They were more miserable than any other creature”.  Zeus, however, feared man might become wise and strong enough to challenge his authority, so he refused Prometheus’ request. Prometheus left the indulgent kingdom of the gods forever and took fire from Olympus (god’s home) in a bundle of fennel reeds to man. With fire, and a means to transport it, man evolved and advanced again.

If you’re like me, you’ve been on the backside of the type of power struggle that’s referenced in this tale. In this story you see two types of leadership, two types of power. Prometheus represents a leader of the people, a leader who walks and lives among the ranks and who doesn’t see mankind as a means to self glory but rather as something to take pleasure in as a good father. Prometheus is able to retain his powerful identity while giving away means of power to those he has authority over. Zeus represents a leader of position and power. Zeus sees mankind as a means to retaining power. His focus is on ensuring that mankind stays in a position of subservience. Removing fire would have been catastrophic… His action removed the ability to stay warm on cold nights, cook food, clean wounds, make metal instruments for hunting and farming, and more. And this punishment was a result of Zeus feeling robbed that the sacrifices (i.e. ego stroking) being offered to him didn’t include all the best parts of the animal, desiring that this weak creature of humanity give he, who had all power, the best of the scarce resources they possessed. Zeus epitomizes insecurity. 

When we know the names, faces, ambitions, and stories of those we lead, we care about their wants and needs. When we care about maintaining power, we see their advancement as a threat to our own. I was once recounted an instance where a supervisor asked an employee what their career plans were, and when they responded, the supervisor burst out with “are you trying to take my job or something?”  What if they’d said “imagine what we can do together with all you’ll learn!” A great employee or a confident supervisor makes their boss look great, and becomes a tide rising all ships, not one that sinks them.

 Prometheus wasn’t focused on using humanity as a footstool to his own status, he was secure in his power and his relationship with those of less authority.  What need did the gods, who had all power, have with the best parts of something as stupid as meat for a sacrifice?  Zeus wanted a symbol of their servitude and a reminder of his power, Prometheus wanted to share the fire and saw human’s prospering without threat to his own status. 

When we, like Zeus, don't recognize our own power, we are threatened by the power of others. Insecurity  creates the instinct to control, coerce, and minimize the future of others. We obsess over having the best for ourselves when we have no real need. We take away the light, we remove the fire. 

We are willing to step out of the emptiness of our “cities of gods” in our culture, with all the trappings of comfort and control, to find meaning and purpose in the lives of those we lead. We give out freedom in resources, time, and flexibility. 

So go forth, own your power, like Prometheus, and carry the fire.

Matt Hangen is a self-professed “Creative Rebel” as well as the President & CEO of Water4, a global nonprofit leader in the water crisis headquartered in Oklahoma City. Matt’s 2021 TEDx talk, Putting Charity Out of Business shares a blueprint for using the power of entrepreneurship and empowerment to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.