Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius

The article deals with such element of the Prometheus myth as creation of humans from clay. This variation of the creation myth is present in such early sources as Hesiod and Aesop and in such classical ancient sources as Ovid and Properce; yet overall, it is rare. In late Antiquity, the plot become...

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Main Authors: Anna V. Protopopova, Ivan A. Protopopov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Russian Academy of Sciences, A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature 2019-12-01
Series:Studia Litterarum
Subjects:
Online Access:http://studlit.ru/images/2019-4-4/Protopopova-Protopopov.pdf
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author Anna V. Protopopova
Ivan A. Protopopov
author_facet Anna V. Protopopova
Ivan A. Protopopov
author_sort Anna V. Protopopova
collection DOAJ
description The article deals with such element of the Prometheus myth as creation of humans from clay. This variation of the creation myth is present in such early sources as Hesiod and Aesop and in such classical ancient sources as Ovid and Properce; yet overall, it is rare. In late Antiquity, the plot becomes more popular (Pausanias, Hygin, Lucian). Sometimes, Hephaestus replaces Prometheus; sometimes the myth comes together with the Pandora myth, but the moment of animating a clay figure is usually vaguely described. The essay specifically focuses on Mythologies by Fulgentius (5–6 AD): both his narration and interpretation of the myth are rather unique. Fulgentius presents contamination of previous versions (such as stealing the fire from gods and giving it to humans; ascent to heaven; creation of humans from clay; Athena’s help; Pandora; punishment for stealing fire etc). Of particular interest is the stealing of the fire motif: in this version, Prometheus wants to animate humans with the help of fire instead of helping the humankind. The essay examines the etymology of Prometheus’s name and the allegory of the hawk in Fulgentius and pays special attention to the philosophical meaning of the fire that brings humans to life.
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spelling doaj-art-c4e7d9d5a8cf44c8a35cd124d692082c2025-08-20T02:02:30ZengRussian Academy of Sciences, A.M. Gorky Institute of World LiteratureStudia Litterarum2500-42472541-85642019-12-0144445710.22455/2500-4247-2019-4-4-44-57Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in FulgentiusAnna V. Protopopova 0Ivan A. Protopopov1 A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of SciencesSaint Petersburg State University of Aerospace InstrumentationThe article deals with such element of the Prometheus myth as creation of humans from clay. This variation of the creation myth is present in such early sources as Hesiod and Aesop and in such classical ancient sources as Ovid and Properce; yet overall, it is rare. In late Antiquity, the plot becomes more popular (Pausanias, Hygin, Lucian). Sometimes, Hephaestus replaces Prometheus; sometimes the myth comes together with the Pandora myth, but the moment of animating a clay figure is usually vaguely described. The essay specifically focuses on Mythologies by Fulgentius (5–6 AD): both his narration and interpretation of the myth are rather unique. Fulgentius presents contamination of previous versions (such as stealing the fire from gods and giving it to humans; ascent to heaven; creation of humans from clay; Athena’s help; Pandora; punishment for stealing fire etc). Of particular interest is the stealing of the fire motif: in this version, Prometheus wants to animate humans with the help of fire instead of helping the humankind. The essay examines the etymology of Prometheus’s name and the allegory of the hawk in Fulgentius and pays special attention to the philosophical meaning of the fire that brings humans to life.http://studlit.ru/images/2019-4-4/Protopopova-Protopopov.pdffabius planciades fulgentiusprometheuscreation mythartificial bodylate antiquity
spellingShingle Anna V. Protopopova
Ivan A. Protopopov
Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
Studia Litterarum
fabius planciades fulgentius
prometheus
creation myth
artificial body
late antiquity
title Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
title_full Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
title_fullStr Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
title_full_unstemmed Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
title_short Creation Myth and the Prometheus Myth in Fulgentius
title_sort creation myth and the prometheus myth in fulgentius
topic fabius planciades fulgentius
prometheus
creation myth
artificial body
late antiquity
url http://studlit.ru/images/2019-4-4/Protopopova-Protopopov.pdf
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