In Greek mythology, who steals fire for humanity before Pandora appears?

In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire for humanity before Pandora appears. His act provokes Zeus and leads to the creation and delivery of Pandora as a punishment.

Prometheus is a Titan associated with intelligence, craft, and foresight. In Hesiod’s narrative, he deceives Zeus during a sacrificial division and later takes fire from the gods. He gives the stolen fire to humans, allowing them to cook, work metals, and develop civilization in later interpretations.

Zeus retaliates against both Prometheus and humanity. Prometheus is punished separately, while Pandora becomes the instrument through which suffering enters human existence. Prometheus also warns his brother Epimetheus not to accept anything from Zeus, but Epimetheus ignores the advice.

The fire episode and the Pandora episode are related but distinct myths. Prometheus does not open the container, and Pandora is not the person who steals fire. Modern stories frequently combine or rearrange the episodes, so identifying the separate roles helps clarify the original mythic structure.