Retold in our own words from Hesiod, Theogony 507–616, and Apollodorus, Library 1.7.1 (Theoi Project translations) · Published 30 October 2026
The trick at Mecone
Literature In Hesiod’s Theogony, Prometheus tries to trick Zeus at a place called Mecone. He cuts up a great ox: for people he hides the good meat under the ox’s stomach, and for Zeus he dresses up the white bones in shining fat. Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature Hesiod says Zeus saw through the trick, took up the white fat and was angry when he saw the bones beneath. After that he would not give the power of fire to mortal people. Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Fire in a fennel stalk
Literature Prometheus steals the far-seen gleam of fire anyway, carrying it in a hollow fennel stalk. Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature In return Zeus binds Prometheus fast, and sends a long-winged eagle that feeds on his liver every day; it grows back each night. Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature Hesiod adds that Heracles later killed the eagle and set Prometheus free from his suffering. Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Apollodorus’ version
Literature Apollodorus, writing centuries later, says Prometheus also moulded the first people out of water and earth, and gave them fire hidden in a fennel stalk. Apollodorus, Library 1.7.1 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗
Literature In his version Zeus has Prometheus nailed to Mount Caucasus, and Hercules later sets him free. Apollodorus, Library 1.7.1 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗
Compare the two. In the lines of the Theogony we checked, Hesiod does not name a mountain, and it is Heracles who sets Prometheus free. Apollodorus names Mount Caucasus and adds that Prometheus made the first people. (Hercules is the Latin form of the name Heracles.)
Who wrote these versions?
History Britannica describes Hesiod as an 8th-century-BCE Greek writer. His Works and Days uses the Pandora story to show that honest, hard work is needed in life. Britannica: Works and Days ↗
History The Library is a handbook of Greek myths that has come down under the name of Apollodorus of Athens. Britannica says it is not in fact by him, and was written in the 1st or 2nd century AD. Britannica: Apollodorus of Athens ↗
Follow the thread
Hesiod, Theogony 507–616 (trans. H. G. Evelyn-White, 1914) · Theoi Project ↗
Apollodorus, Library 1.7.1 (trans. J. G. Frazer, 1921) · Theoi Project ↗
Britannica: Apollodorus of Athens ↗
Retellings are in our own words. Every sentence above carries a label (History, Literature or Tradition) and a link to the source it was checked against, with the book and line or section numbers. Where ancient writers tell a myth differently, we name each one.
Source method & more reading ↗