In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Prometheus steals fire for humanity before Pandora is created. His action defies Zeus, who has withheld fire from mortals and then responds with a punishment involving Pandora.
Prometheus is a Titan, a generation of divine beings older than the Olympian gods. His name is often interpreted as “forethought,” while his brother Epimetheus is associated with “afterthought.” This contrast becomes important because Epimetheus accepts Pandora despite Prometheus’s warning.
The fire-stealing episode appears in several ancient traditions, but the details vary. In Aeschylus’s later tragedy Prometheus Bound, Prometheus is portrayed as a major benefactor who gives humans not only fire but also knowledge and arts. Hesiod’s account is more focused on the conflict with Zeus and the consequences imposed on humanity.