Azazel & Prometheus: Similarities in Myths & Legends

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The discussion highlights the striking parallels between the biblical figure Azazel and the Greek myth of Prometheus, particularly in their roles as figures who impart knowledge to humanity and face severe punishment for it. Azazel is depicted as teaching humanity various crafts, leading to moral decay, while Prometheus is punished for giving fire to mankind, symbolizing enlightenment. Both figures are bound and tormented, with Azazel cast into darkness and Prometheus subjected to eternal suffering. The conversation also touches on the broader theme of shared narratives across cultures, suggesting that these stories may have common roots due to the oral tradition of storytelling and cultural exchanges. Additionally, the discussion briefly mentions Lucifer as a potential biblical counterpart to Prometheus, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mythological and religious narratives across different civilizations.
chaoseverlasting
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I was just reading this article on wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azazel and its remarkable to note the similarities between biblical accounts and greek myths. This particular extract sounds extremely similar to Prometheus giving fire to man and being chained and tortured for it for all eternity. Perhaps they are different descriptions of the same account?

God sees the sin brought about by Azazel and has Raphael “bind Azazel hand and foot and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert — which is in Dudael — and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there forever, and cover his face that he may not see light.”

Prometheus was bound and an eagle tore at his eyes for all eternity.

And Azazel taught men to make swords and knives and shields and breastplates; and made known to them the metals [of the earth] and the art of working them; and bracelets and ornaments; and the use of antimony and the beautifying of the eyelids; and all kinds of costly stones and all colouring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray and became corrupt in all their ways.

Prometheus gave man fire, something exclusively retained by the gods, and Zeus punished him for it.An article on wiki on Prometheus, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus .
Again, interesting to note the similarities shown in many cultures from the world over at the end of the article.
 
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chaoseverlasting said:
Prometheus was bound and an eagle tore at his eyes for all eternity.

Just for accuracy, it was his liver, not his eyes.

Edit: And according to wikipedia, it was a vulture, not an eagle.
 
NeoDevin said:
Just for accuracy, it was his liver, not his eyes.

Edit: And according to wikipedia, it was a vulture, not an eagle.

Sorry. My fault. I should have looked it up. Thank you for correcting me.
 
There is undoubted similarity between bible stories and other ancient myths. They all seem to have a common root. Its not surprising in times when stories were told rather than written to see such variation of the same story from one place to another.
 
As religions move into different cultures, old myths are recast in a new context. As cultures interact, stories are transferred from one culture to another.
 
chaoseverlasting said:
its remarkable to note the similarities between biblical accounts and greek myths.
The particular myth you speak of is not in the Bible, but from other sacred writings. A closer fit for the Bible would be Babylonian and Persian myths. But these cultures were in contact with each other, so it is no surprise that they all share myths. Astronuc covered this point.
 
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