In Greek mythology, Prometheus steals fire for humanity before Zeus sends Pandora.
Prometheus is a Titan who sides with humans and obtains fire for them, an act that enrages Zeus. In Hesiod’s account, Zeus responds by arranging Pandora’s creation and sending her as a punishment connected with the stolen fire. The two episodes are therefore directly linked in the mythic sequence.
Prometheus’s theft is one of his most famous attributes, although different ancient sources and later retellings vary in their details. The fire represents a major advantage for humans, enabling technologies such as cooking and metalworking in later interpretations.
Prometheus should not be confused with Epimetheus, his brother and Pandora’s husband. Prometheus anticipates the danger and warns Epimetheus, while Epimetheus accepts the divine gift. This contrast between forethought and afterthought is one of the story’s clearest structural ideas.