<P> Prometheus Bound (Ancient Greek: Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης, Promētheús Desmṓtēs) is an Ancient Greek tragedy . In antiquity, it was attributed to Aeschylus, but now is considered by some scholars to be the work of another hand, and perhaps one as late as c. 430 BC . Despite these doubts of authorship, the play's designation as Aeschylean has remained conventional . The tragedy is based on the myth of Prometheus, a Titan who defies the gods and gives fire to mankind, acts for which he is subjected to perpetual punishment . </P> <P> Prometheus Bound was the first work in a trilogy that also included the plays Prometheus Lyomenos (Prometheus Unbound) and Prometheus Pyrphoros (Prometheus the Fire - Bearer), neither of which has survived . Since the final two dramas of the trilogy have been lost, it is difficult to determine Aeschylus's original intention for the work as a whole . This problem is intensified since the date of the trilogy is unknown . A reference (lines 363 - 372) to the eruption of Mount Aetna in 479 suggests that Prometheus Bound may date later than this event . Aside from that, however, scholars cannot agree whether the play was written early or late in Aeschylus's career or even whether it is a genuine work of Aeschylus . </P> <P> The theme of Prometheus Bound is the conflict between force and justice . The supreme god Zeus has recently assumed control of the universe from the Titans and is ruling like a petty tyrant . He has bound Prometheus to a rock in a remote corner of the earth because Prometheus gave the gift of fire to humankind, a race whom Zeus had sought to destroy . </P> <P> To the original Athenian audience, which had expelled the tyrant Hippias only in 510 b.c.e., Aeschylus's references to tyranny in this play would have been topical . Moreover, it is surprising to find that these references are applied to the god Zeus, usually depicted in Aeschylean tragedy as the defender of justice . </P>

In the play prometheus bound zeus is portrayed as a