In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods before the Pandora story.
Prometheus is portrayed as humanity’s benefactor in many ancient accounts. After Zeus withheld fire, Prometheus took it and returned it to humans, enabling technology, cooking, and civilization in the mythic imagination.
Hesiod connects this act with the punishment involving Pandora. Zeus retaliates against Prometheus and humanity: Prometheus suffers his own punishment, while humanity receives Pandora, whose arrival is followed by the release of troubles from the jar.
Later writers, especially Aeschylus, develop Prometheus into a more heroic and defiant figure. Hesiod’s version is more critical, emphasizing deception and the consequences of challenging Zeus. The fire theft and Pandora are therefore linked, but they are separate episodes in the broader myth.