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Why is the liver so weirdly regenerative?

576 points · 293 comments · jbotz

  1. vconnor · · focus · HN ↗
    The punishment for Prometheus stealing fire from the Gods and gifting it to humanity, was to be chained to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which would regrow the next day.
    1. bheadmaster · · focus · HN ↗
      For what it's worth, Prometheus was a Titan, and Titan was immortal, so his liver regrowing the next day wasn't really that special. If eagle fed on his heart, or lungs, they would've regrown too.

      The Greeks chose liver because it symbolized the defiance Prometheus had against gods.

      1. seizethecheese · · focus · HN ↗
        Why would liver signal defiance?
        1. bheadmaster · · focus · HN ↗
          I phrased it awkwardly. Simply put, in Ancient Greece, liver was something like heart in modern society. It was the seat of human emotions.

          So by destroying Prometheus' liver, Zeus attempted to destroy his human emotions, including his pride and defiance against gods.

          1. seizethecheese · · focus · HN ↗
            I don’t think it was phrased awkwardly, I was just curious.
          2. hobo123 · · focus · HN ↗
            Also, liver-toxic people are really angry / choleric, while healthy people are relaxed and composed, so there's something to that.
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