The Chains of Prometheus are the magical chains used to trap the Titan Prometheus.
History[]
Because of his meddling nature, Prometheus stole fire for humans, which greatly boosted their progress as a species. He had already deceived Zeus prior to then by making him choose the worst part of an ox and giving the best one to humanity. These two actions, (more the fire than the ox) infuriated Zeus, and as a punishment, Zeus had Prometheus chained up on a mountain and had a huge and ferocious vulture peck out his liver every day, and as Prometheus' immortal liver regrew every night, the cycle could continue. This could only be evaded if someone broke the chains or if Prometheus told Zeus which of his fellow gods would overthrow him.
Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes[]
During his journey to find the Garden of the Hesperides, Hercules arrived at the Caucasus, where he came across the imprisoned Prometheus; taking pity on him, Hercules shot down the eagle with one of his arrows and, with permission from his father, Zeus, set Prometheus free.
The Nico di Angelo Adventures[]
The Court of the Dead[]
Pirithous uses the Chains of Prometheus to force other gods to join him, explaining that they were forged by Hephaestus and infused with the power of the entire Olympian Council. Like many things created by the gods, they were forgotten, abandoned and tossed aside. The chains force whoever is caught in them to endure Prometheus' punishment which quickly causes gods to side with Pirithous.
Trying to free Dolus and Apate from the chains, Nico di Angelo and Semele come to the conclusion that as the entire council of gods had to agree to put Prometheus in the chains, they needed another godly council to unlock them. With the cacodemons counting as gods, albeit very, very, very minor ones, they and Semele are able to fill this role. The cacodemons chew on the chains at the same as Nico hits them with his sword, easily breaking the chains and freeing the two gods.