Prometheus, the immortal Greek Titan, loved mankind more than any god.  He stole fire from the forge of Hephaestus (Vulcan) and, holding it aloft like a lighted torch which banishes darkness, he brought it running to mankind.  This is the origin of the Olympic Torch.

As punishment, Zeus (Jupiter), supreme ruler of the Gods, chained Prometheus to a rock, where his liver was torn out and eaten each day by an Eagle.  Since Prometheus was immortal, his liver grew back every night, to be torn out by the Eagle the next day.  Prometheus endured indescribable pain for hundreds of years until Hercules killed the Eagle and set him free.

Prometheus’ gift of fire brought civilization to mortals. Many artists and sculptors have interpreted Prometheus’ famous flight to earth.  One of my favorites is the dazzling 18-foot-long, 8-ton gold statue of Prometheus in NY Rockefeller Center. This, however, is my interpretation.

My goal is to show as much movement as possible. The dramatic flow of Prometheus’ hair and the parallel flow of the gold flames of the Olympic torch further create the illusion that Prometheus is soaring through the air. To further the illusion of weightlessness, his body is totally airborne except for the tip of his right toe, which just touches a gold cloud. I was again influenced by Auguste Rodin. The depiction of Prometheus’ body and muscles, including the final rich black patination reflect Rodin. I am told that the sculpture is very Rodinesque, which pleases me.

Prometheus is cast in bronze, with the same classic rich black patination used by Rodin. His right toe touches a gold cluster of clouds, first cast in brass and then highly polished. The gold flames of the Olympic Torch are cast in bronze, then highly polished. The base is polished stainless steel to reflect the sculpture like a mirror.

Richard Minns