In Hesiod's Pandora story, Prometheus is blamed for stealing fire for humanity.
Prometheus is a Titan in Greek mythology who becomes closely associated with fire, craft and human advancement. In Hesiod's account, he deceives Zeus and later steals fire, provoking Zeus to devise a punishment that includes the creation of Pandora.
The fire episode and Pandora episode are therefore connected parts of one mythic explanation. Fire represents a powerful advantage for humans, while Pandora's arrival introduces the troubles that accompany mortal life in the story's moral framework.
Prometheus is sometimes described as humanity's straightforward champion, but ancient sources portray a more complicated figure. He is clever and helpful to humans, yet his defiance of Zeus brings severe consequences for himself and for humanity.