About the openign scene in Prometheus (spoiler)?

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe that is not earth but the world of the research facility. The engineer sacrificing himself...is not. He is being executed for sharing the fire of creation with man. The engineer is Prometheus of Greek legend/myth...and it is this other half of the movie that the movie name entails.

Prometheus was a Titan, one of the race of supergods that gave birth to the lesser gods such as Zeus. According to greek legend he stole the gift of fire and taught man to use it. The Titans enraged at this bit of sacrilege sentenced Prometheus to be chained to a stone where and eagle rips out his liver and eats it...then he heals and the eagle repeats this bit of violence...forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvx1xr88qfM

The ship you see floating above him in the beginning is a massive piece of work. Dropping off Prometheus to be executed would not have required such a leviathan. I believe that half the bloody Titans in the universe came out to see this execution...such was the crime viewed by his fellow Titans...Abomination. They came to see in person...this race traitor ripped apart and reconstituted and ripped apart again...at least the beginning of the process.

This is not an engineer giving the gift of life...but Prometheus being sentenced to death and carrying out that sentence. Hope this helps...