In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from Mount Olympus before Pandora was created.
The theft is central to the myth’s chain of events. Prometheus, a Titan who supports humanity, gives people fire after Zeus withholds it. Fire represents practical knowledge, craftsmanship, cooking, and technological power, making its loss a serious disadvantage for mortals.
Zeus responds with punishments directed at both Prometheus and humanity. Prometheus is chained and subjected to a recurring torment, while Pandora is fashioned as part of a divine retribution aimed at human beings. The exact details differ among ancient and later versions, but the relationship between fire, Prometheus, and Pandora is consistent in the familiar narrative.
Some retellings say Prometheus stole fire in a fennel stalk, a detail associated with ancient accounts. Pandora herself does not steal the fire; she enters the story afterward.