In Greek mythology, Prometheus released fire to humans before Pandora appeared.
Prometheus is a Titan famous for helping humanity. In Hesiod’s account, he deceives Zeus during a sacrificial division and later steals fire for mortals, often described as carrying it in a fennel stalk. Zeus responds by arranging Pandora’s creation and sending her to Epimetheus, creating a mythic connection between stolen fire and the arrival of human troubles.
Prometheus’s name is commonly associated with “forethought,” contrasting with his brother Epimetheus, whose name is linked with “afterthought.” That contrast is central to the Pandora story. Prometheus recognizes Zeus’s danger and warns Epimetheus not to accept gifts from the god, but Epimetheus does not follow the warning.
Later Greek and Roman traditions expand Prometheus’s role, especially by making him a creator or benefactor of humanity. The exact details vary by author, but his theft of fire and punishment by Zeus are among the most enduring elements. Pandora belongs to that same larger cycle of myths about divine power, human progress, and suffering.