In Greek mythology, Prometheus was punished for stealing fire in the story connected with Pandora.
Prometheus is a Titan who helps humanity in several ancient accounts. In Hesiod, he deceives Zeus during a sacrificial division and later steals fire for mortals, angering the chief Olympian god. Zeus responds by arranging Pandora’s creation and sending her to humanity as a source of suffering.
Other classical writers develop Prometheus’s myth differently. Aeschylus’s tragedy Prometheus Bound emphasizes his defiance and his gift of civilization, while later traditions make him a creator or benefactor of humankind. These variations should not be treated as one uniform ancient version.
The Pandora story is therefore part of a broader Prometheus cycle. Pandora represents Zeus’s punishment reaching humanity, while Prometheus represents the rebellious figure whose actions trigger that punishment.