In Greek mythology, Prometheus’s theft of fire leads directly to Pandora’s creation. Hesiod presents Pandora as part of Zeus’s punishment for Prometheus and for humanity, which received the stolen divine fire.
Prometheus is a Titan famous for helping mortals. In the account associated with Hesiod, he deceives Zeus in the division of an ox and later steals fire for humans. Zeus responds by ordering the gods to create Pandora, whose arrival introduces a new burden into human life. The story thus links fire, divine punishment, and the origin of human troubles.
Prometheus’s myth has several ancient and later versions, and details vary between authors. In Aeschylus’s Prometheus Bound, for example, the Titan is portrayed as a major benefactor who gives humans many arts and skills. Hesiod’s treatment is more focused on conflict with Zeus and the consequences of defying divine authority.
Prometheus and Epimetheus are brothers in the myth. Prometheus means “forethought,” while Epimetheus is associated with “afterthought,” a contrast that helps explain their different roles in later retellings.