<<< Der Kaukasus und Europa / Caucasus and Europe

 

Two Symbols

Azat Yeghiazaryan (Jerewan)

Email: litinst@sci.am

 

ABSTRACT:

This paper focuses on the comparison of two great symbols of European culture: one of them was born in Caucasus, another – in deserts of Israel. I mean Prometheus and Jesus Christ. Both of them symbolized the self-sacrifice for the sake of mankind. Both of them became the greatest heroes of Europe. But their images are surprisingly different. Prometheus is a proud and strong son of a Greek god. He challenges to Zeus and other gods. And Christ is an incarnation of modesty. He is the Son of God too, but he does not fight with him. Just on the contrary. He came to world to realize the will of his father – to save the men.

But the differences between the contents of their aid to mankind are more essential. Prometheus gave them the secrets of material welfare and prosperity. Christ cared for their souls. Prometheus’s message is adopted and realizing successfully, one may say, too successfully up to our days. But Christ’s oracles stay unrealized, and one can’t say, if they will ever be realized or not.