The story of Prometheus is quite a well know one, Prometheus was a demigod, one of the Titans, who was worshiped by craftsmen. When Zeus hid fire from man, Prometheus stole it by trickery and returned it to earth. As punishment, Zeus chained him to a rock where an eagle fed each day on his liver, which grew again each night.
This is a myth and thus serves a function. A question raised is, what is the purpose of a myth?
• Present morals
• Ethics
• Warn of consequences
• Explanation of creation
• Explanation for events
• Explanation for nature
So thus we have a dissection of a myth.
“myth |miθ| |mɪθ| |mɪθ|
noun
1 a traditional story, esp. one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.
• such stories collectively : the heroes of Greek myth.”
Prometheus is just one example of a myth and how it can present values, attitudes and beliefs.
Fables
fable |ˈfābəl| |ˌfeɪbəl| |ˌfeɪb(ə)l|
noun
a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral.
• a story, typically a supernatural one incorporating elements of myth and legend.