In Greek mythology, Pandora’s arrival was meant to punish Prometheus because he stole fire and gave it to humanity. The myth links Pandora directly to the Titan’s defiance of Zeus.
Prometheus is portrayed as a benefactor of humans in many ancient and later versions of his story. Hesiod, however, emphasizes the consequences of his challenge to Zeus. After the theft of fire, Zeus devised a punishment that would affect humanity: the gods created Pandora and sent her into the human world.
Prometheus’s own punishment was separate. In the best-known version, Zeus had him chained to a mountain, where an eagle repeatedly ate his liver. Pandora’s story and Prometheus’s story are often combined because both explain the relationship between divine authority, human progress, and suffering.