In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from Zeus and gave it to humanity before Pandora arrived.
Prometheus is the Titan most closely associated with fire, intelligence, and human advancement. In the best-known versions of the myth, he concealed fire in a stalk of fennel and carried it from the gods to mortals. Zeus punished him for this act, while the gift helped explain humanity’s possession of technology and civilization.
The Pandora story is presented by Hesiod as a consequence of the conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora as a punishment for the theft, and Pandora was sent to Epimetheus with gifts from the gods.
Different ancient writers vary in details, including how the fire was obtained and what punishment Prometheus received. The central connection remains stable: Prometheus’s gift of fire precedes Pandora’s arrival in Hesiod’s account.