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Prometheus is a Titan in Greek mythology. He is often remembered for his famous defiant act: he stole fire from the gods and gifted it to man. However, it wasn’t just a flame. Prometheus handed humanity the spark of progress. After the Titan struck the sun and gave the torch to humans, Zeus bound him in unbreakable chains. He pinned Prometheus to a mountain where an eagle pecked out his liver every day.

Most people I know feel empathy for the Titan. They see his punishment as the result of a god’s wounded ego. If the myth were real, Prometheus paved the way for metallurgy and agriculture. He laid the foundations of civilization and played a key role in human innovation. The satellites enabling you to read this post are rooted in his flame. Because of his sacrifice, humanity didn’t just survive; we dominated. We became the apex predator in every environment we entered. And now that we’ve conquered Earth, we’re reaching for the stars.

Unfortunately, as we’ve advanced, other forms of life have declined. In case you haven’t heard, there are only two members left of the Northern White Rhino species: Najin and Fatu. They walk a lonely road as the final witnesses of their kind. If Najin could speak, I wonder if she would tell her daughter about their history. Perhaps, in her version of the story, a reckless spirit stole from the sun. He bestowed its power on bipedal demons that used it to melt and reshape stone. With the spirit’s boon they created weapons and hunted her kin.

Because of humanity, Fatu roams her conservatory carrying the weight of a legacy she doesn’t understand. Her mother, Najin, remembers it all but has no one to share it with. I question if it’s worse that Najin knows everything forgotten or that Fatu may never know what she’s already lost. It’s a painful thought, but if I had to choose between my everyday life or two rhinos, I’d prefer my comforts. I’m not above human selfishness. I like running water, electricity, and hot food. I believe there is a middle ground where both parties can benefit, but we have yet to reach it.

Ultimately, humanity benefited from Prometheus’s gift. But it came with consequences: extinction, imbalance, and irreversible loss. Maybe Zeus wasn’t punishing Prometheus for his disobedience. Perhaps the myth was a hidden warning. It was a story to teach us that some flames burn too brightly. It was a fable so we could learn that a steady fire can suddenly consume more than intended.

If you wish to help Najin and Fatu, click this link Najin and Fatu – Olpejeta Donation Portal