Prometheus: Modern Technology in the Light of an Ancient Myth

Prometheus is one of the few figures from ancient mythology who remains relevant today—as the bringer of fire, he has become a symbol of culture and civilization. Critics of technological progress, in particular, draw on him: After Günter Anders coined the term “Promethean shame,” Martina Heßler has recently spoken of “Promethean helplessness” and Peter Slotderdijk of “Promethean remorse.” After a brief overview of these interpretations of Prometheus, the lecture returns to his ancient origins. A look at the tragedy *Prometheus Bound* can sharpen our understanding of the Promethean legacy in the present. Through the prism of ancient myth, the Promethean paradox emerges—the very paradox to which the modern world leads.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Jonas Grethlein is a member of Academy of Sciences and Humanities Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He studied Greek and Latin philology as well as history in Göttingen, Oxford, and Freiburg. After a two-year stay at Harvard University, Jonas Grethlein became an assistant professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (USA) in 2007. since , he has been a professor of “Classical Philology: Greek Literature” at Heidelberg University. He has been honored with numerous awards for his scholarly work, including the HeinzPrize 2006) and the Gottfried WilhelmPrize 2024) from the DFG.

Other program highlights:

• Welcome Remarks by Dr. Hans J. Reiter, Director General and Head of Department at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts
• Report from the Young Academy I HAdW
• President's Report
• Awards Ceremony 

Musical accompaniment

, Clemens Seewald (baritone),
, Elitsa Desseva (piano)

Part I
Franz Schubert “Prometheus” (D 674) 

Part II “The Shadows of Fire”
Franz Schubert “The Gods of Greece” (D 677)
Georg Kreisler “My Freedom. Your Freedom” 

Part III “The Light of the Fire”
Vaughan Williams “Let Beauty Awake” (from *Songs of Travel*)
Gustav Holst “What the Heart Worships”