In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire before Pandora entered the story.
Prometheus is traditionally portrayed as taking fire from the gods and giving it to humanity. The act represents a major transfer of divine power and helps explain why Zeus punished him and humanity in the mythic sequence preserved by Hesiod. Fire also symbolizes technology, craft, cooking, and civilization in later interpretations.
Pandora’s arrival is connected to this offense rather than being an unrelated episode. Hesiod presents her as part of the punishment associated with Prometheus’s action. Modern retellings sometimes treat the fire theft and the opening of the container as separate myths, but their connection is central to the traditional narrative. Prometheus’s later punishment involved being bound and having his liver repeatedly consumed by an eagle.