In Hesiod’s story of Pandora’s box, which Titan gave fire to humanity?

In Hesiod’s story of Pandora’s box, Prometheus gave fire to humanity. The Titan is portrayed as a benefactor of mortals who outwitted Zeus and stole fire, hiding it in a fennel stalk before bringing it to humans.

Zeus responded by arranging punishment for both Prometheus and humanity. Prometheus was chained to a mountain, where an eagle repeatedly ate his liver; the liver was restored each day in the best-known later version of the myth. Pandora’s arrival was presented as part of the punishment directed at humans.

Prometheus’s name is commonly interpreted as “forethought,” contrasting with his brother Epimetheus, whose name is associated with thinking afterward. This contrast helps explain why Epimetheus accepts Pandora despite Prometheus’s warning not to accept gifts from Zeus.

The fire episode and Pandora episode are closely connected in Hesiod, but later writers expanded and altered details. A frequent error is crediting Epimetheus with the theft: Epimetheus is Pandora’s husband, while Prometheus is the fire-bringer.