Page "Prometheus" Paragraph 27

Athens was the exception.

The altar of Prometheus in the grove of the Academy was the point of origin for several significant processions and other events regularly observed on the Athenian calendar.

For the Panathenaic festival, arguably the most important civic festival at Athens, a torch race began at the altar, which was located outside the sacred boundary of the city, and passed through the Kerameikos, the district inhabited by potters and other artisans who regarded Prometheus and Hephaestus as patrons.

The race then traveled to the heart of the city, where it kindled the sacrificial fire on the altar of Athena on the Acropolis to conclude the festival.

These footraces took the form of relays in which teams of runners passed off a flaming torch.

According to Pausanias ( 2nd century AD ), the torch relay, called lampadedromia or lampadephoria, was first instituted at Athens in honor of Prometheus.

By the Classical period, the races were run by ephebes also in honor of Hephaestus and Athena.

Prometheus ' association with fire is the key to his religious significance and to the alignment with Athena and Hephaestus that was specific to Athens and its " unique degree of cultic emphasis " on honoring technology.

The festival of Prometheus was the Prometheia.

The wreaths worn symbolized the chains of Prometheus.