In Greek mythology, Prometheus is the Titan punished by Zeus after helping humanity obtain fire before Pandora’s arrival.
Prometheus steals fire from the gods and gives it to humans, an act that provides them with a powerful tool for survival, craft, and civilization. Zeus responds by having Prometheus chained, while also arranging a separate punishment for humanity through Pandora’s creation.
The myth connects two punishments: Prometheus suffers directly, and humans receive Pandora. Hesiod’s account is darker than many modern versions, presenting the gifts of technology and the arrival of suffering as linked consequences of conflict with Zeus.
Later classical writers, especially Aeschylus, develop Prometheus as a heroic benefactor of humanity. That sympathetic image strongly influences modern culture, but Hesiod’s original story also emphasizes his defiance and the consequences of challenging Zeus. Pandora’s episode should therefore be read alongside the broader Prometheus myth.