and now it is time to speak of my handiwork
and the fact that I made men. This embodies a

 

twofold accusation, Hermes, and I don’t know which
charge you bring against me—that men should not
have been created at all but would better have been
left alone as mere clay, or that they should have
been made, as far as that goes, but fashioned after
some other pattern than this. However, I shall
speak to both charges. In the first place I shall try
to show that it has done the gods no harm to bring
men into the world, and then that this is actually
advantageous, far better for them than if the earth
had happened to remain deserted and unpeopled.

 

There existed, then, in time gone by (for if I
begin there it will be easier to see whether I have
done any wrong in my alterations and innovations
with regard to men) there existed, as I say, only the
divine, the heavenly race. The earth was a rude
and ugly thing all shaggy with woods, and wild
woods at that, and there were no divine altars or
temples—how could there be ?—or images or anything else of the sort, though they are now to be
seen in great numbers everywhere, honoured with
every form of observance. But as I am always
planning something for the common good and considering how the condition of the gods may be
improved and everything else may increase in order
and in beauty, it occurred to me that it would be a
good idea to take a little bit of clay and create a
few living things, making them like us in appearance; for I thought that divinity was not quite
complete in the absence of its counterpart, comparison with which would show divinity to be the

 

happier state. This should be mortal, I thought,
but highly inventive and intelligent and able to
appreciate what was better.

 

And then, “water and
earth intermingling,” in the words of the poet, Hesiod, Works and Days 61. and
kneading them, I moulded men, inviting Athena,
moreover, to give me a hand in the task. Therein
lies the great wrong I have done the gods, and you
see what the penalty is for making creatures out of
mud and imparting motion to that which was
formerly motionless. From that time on, it would
seem, the gods are less of gods because on earth a
few mortal creatures have come into being! Indeed,
Zeus is actually as angry as though the gods were
losing caste through the creation of men. Surely he
doesn’t’ fear that they will plot an insurrection
against him and make war on the gods as the Giants
did ? No, Hermes, that you gods have suffered no wrong
through me and my works is self-evident; come,
show me even one wrong of the smallest sort, and I
will hold my tongue and own that I have had the
treatment that I deserved at your hahds.

 
On the
contrary, that my creation has been actually of
service to the gods you will learn if you notice that
the whole earth is no longer barren and unbeautiful
but adorned with cities and tilled lands and cultivated
plants, that the sea is sailed and the islands are
inhabited, and that everywhere there are altars and
sacrifices, temples and festivals,

 and full of God are all the streets And all the marts of men. Aratus, Phaenomena2-3. 




 

If I had made men to keep just for myself, I should
be selfish, no doubt ; but as the case stands I have
contributed them to the general fund for your
benefit. In fact, there are temples to Zeus, to Apollo,
to Hera and to you, Hermes, in sight everywhere,
but nowhere any to Prometheus. You see how I
look out for my own interests, but betray and injure
those of the community !

 

Moreover, Hermes, please consider this point too—
do you think that any choice thing unattested,
something that you get or make, for instance, which
nobody is going to see or to praise, will give quite as
much joy and pleasure to its owner? Why did I
ask that question? Because if men had not been
created, it would follow that the beauty of the
universe would be unattested and it would be our
lot to possess wealth, so to speak, which no one else
would admire and we ourselves would not prize so
highly ; for we should have nothing else to compare
it with, and we should not realise how happy we
were if we did not see others who did not have what
we have. What is great, you know, can only seem
great if it is gauged by something small. You should
have honoured me for that stroke of policy, but you
have crucified me and have given me this return for
my plan.