Ancient statue of a male torso

In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero who is credited with the creation of mankind from clay, and who defies the gods and gives fire to humanity, an act that enabled progress and civilization. When he gave mankind the gift of fire, he crossed Zeus’ will, which therefore chained him naked to a rock and sent an eagle that would eat his liver. But every night it grew out again, the eagle began to eat it again the next day. He is known for his intelligence and as a champion of mankind, in the Western classical tradition, Prometheus became a figure who represented human striving, particularly the quest for scientific knowledge.