In Hesiod’s account, Prometheus stole fire for humans before Pandora appeared. The theft followed a conflict with Zeus and gave mortals an important divine resource, helping explain why Zeus sought to punish both Prometheus and humanity.
Prometheus’s act is central to the structure of Pandora’s story. Zeus’s response was twofold: he punished Prometheus directly and arranged for Pandora to be created as a burden or source of trouble for humankind.
Later Greek and Roman traditions expand Prometheus’s role, sometimes making him the creator or champion of humanity. Hesiod’s version is earlier and emphasizes his cunning, his deception of Zeus, and his theft of fire. The fire episode therefore supplies the myth’s cause, while Pandora supplies its human consequence.