Mythology by Edith Hamilton

There are three different versions of the story of the creation of man. In one, the gods created different races of men based on metals. The gold race was the best, the silver not so good, and the brass even worse. The bronze race were heroes, but the iron race was corrupt, desiring only power. It was this race that was held to be currently on earth. Another story tells that Zeus was angry with early men and sent a great flood to destroy them. Only Prometheus' family survived. When they cast stones behind them, they sprang into the next race of men. Another version says that the Titan Epimetheus created man. According to most traditions, the Titan Prometheus brought fire to humanity. Zeus was angry with Prometheus' love of man and tied him to a rock to have his insides pecked by an eagle. To punish men, he sent them women. The first woman, Pandora, gave in to her curiosity and opened a box that released all the evils into the world. However, hope was also released to aid mankind in their suffering.