In Greek mythology, Zeus sent Pandora to humanity as punishment for the theft of fire.
The story begins when Prometheus steals fire from the gods and gives it to humans. Zeus responds by ordering the creation of Pandora, a woman assembled and equipped by several deities. She is then sent to Epimetheus, Prometheus’s brother, carrying the container that releases suffering into the human world.
This sequence makes Pandora part of a larger conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. Prometheus represents clever planning and sympathy for humanity, while Zeus represents divine authority and retribution. Pandora’s arrival is not presented as an isolated event; it is the consequence of the struggle over fire and human power.
Later retellings often focus only on Pandora and the container, leaving out the Prometheus episode. In Hesiod, however, the theft of fire is essential context for understanding why Zeus sends Pandora and why her story functions as an origin myth for human troubles.