According to Greek mythology, particularly as famously recounted by Plato in his dialogue the Protagoras, the mortal creatures of the world, including humans, were initially molded from a mix of mud and fire by the gods. They then delegated the critical task of distributing the essential traits for survival—the "gifts"—to the two Titan brothers, Prometheus and Epimetheus.
The Blunder of Epimetheus
The two brothers' names perfectly described their natures:
Epimetheus, whose name means "someone who thinks after" (Hindsight), eagerly insisted on distributing the gifts himself, asking his brother to inspect the work later.
Prometheus, meaning "someone who thinks before" (Foresight), agreed to the arrangement.
Epimetheus proceeded to bestow all the necessary attributes upon the animals. He gave them furs, shells, claws, wings, and speed, ensuring that every creature was well-equipped to defend itself and guarantee its species' survival in the wild.
When Prometheus finally reviewed his brother’s work, he was horrified to find that human beings had been entirely forgotten. They were left naked, defenseless, and without any natural advantage to survive the harsh realities of nature.
The Gift of Fire and Technology
Determined to save his creation, Prometheus defied the will of Zeus. He journeyed to Mount Olympus (or according to some versions, to the workshop of the god Hephaestus and the goddess Athena) and stole fire, which was the exclusive domain of the gods. Prometheus not only donated the raw element of fire to humanity but also the crucial "technical ability" (techne)—the skills of craftsmanship, metallurgy, architecture, and reason—allowing humans to utilize fire and build civilization, thus compensating for their physical deficiencies.
Zeus's Vengeance
When Zeus, the King of the Gods, discovered Prometheus's blatant act of betrayal and defiance, he was enraged. He was particularly angry because this act elevated mankind and challenged the divine authority. Zeus decreed a dual punishment: one for the Titan and one for humanity.
1. The Punishment of Prometheus
Prometheus was subjected to a horrific and eternal punishment. He was chained to a rocky peak in the remote Caucasus Mountains. Every day, an eagle (or according to some, a vulture), sent by Zeus, would descend and devour his liver, which, because Prometheus was an immortal Titan, would regenerate overnight, only to be eaten again the next day. This unending cycle of torment was finally broken much later by the great Greek hero, Heracles (Hercules), who slew the eagle and shattered the Titan’s chains.
2. The Punishment of Humanity: Pandora
Zeus also sought retribution against humans for accepting the forbidden gift. He commissioned the creation of Pandora—the first woman—as a trap. Pandora was created to be irresistibly beautiful and curious, and was given as a spouse to the easily manipulated Epimetheus.
As a wedding gift, Zeus gave Pandora a pithos (a large storage jar, often mistranslated as a "box"), which contained all the evil, difficulty, labor, sorrow, and disease of existence. As Zeus knew she would, Pandora’s curiosity eventually overcame her, and she opened the jar, releasing its terrible contents upon the world. The only thing that remained trapped inside was Hope (Elpis), which stayed to help humans endure the newly introduced suffering.
