The Theft of Fire: From Prometheus to Petroleum
Kapellhaus, Baku, Azerbaijan Curators: Alfons Hug, Asli Samadova Monira Al Qadiri | Orkhan Huseynov | Andréas Lang | Marco Montiel-Soto | Samir Salahov | Tita Salina | Sadegh Souri | George Osodi | Sabina Shikhlinskaya and Chinara Majidova It is no coincidence that the legend of Prometheus comes from the same mountaineous area where crude oil was first extracted commercially. In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and brought it down to humanity, and as a consequence, Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock in the Caucasus mountains. Azerbaijan, in fitting with this myth, is known as the Land of Fire, and her flames are maintained by Baku, her vestal virgin. |