In Greek mythology, Prometheus was punished by Zeus for stealing fire for humanity.
Prometheus is a Titan who supports humankind in several Greek myths. In the best-known version, he takes fire from the gods and gives it to mortals, allowing them to cook, work metal, and develop civilization. Zeus responds by imposing punishment on Prometheus and by arranging Pandora’s creation as a separate punishment directed at humanity.
Prometheus’s punishment is famously described as eternal torment: he is bound, and an eagle eats his liver, which grows back so the ordeal can continue. Heracles eventually frees him in later mythology. The exact details vary between ancient sources and later literary traditions.
Pandora’s story is often summarized without this background, but Prometheus’s fire theft explains why Zeus’s actions are presented as retaliation. Prometheus’s brother Epimetheus becomes Pandora’s husband, linking the two myths directly.