In Greek mythology, Prometheus gave fire to humanity and was punished in the story connected with Pandora’s creation.
Prometheus is a Titan associated with forethought, craft, and the advancement of human civilization. In the best-known tradition, he stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, enabling cooking, metalworking, and other technologies. Zeus responded by having him bound to a mountain, where an eagle repeatedly attacked his liver.
Pandora’s creation is presented as part of Zeus’s punishment for Prometheus and humanity. Hesiod says Prometheus had deceived Zeus and later stolen fire, so Zeus arranged for a woman carrying divine gifts to be made and sent among humans.
The stories differ in emphasis across ancient authors. Prometheus can appear as a benefactor, trickster, or rebel, while later writers often made him a symbol of human progress and resistance to authority.