It is somewhat disputed what it was that Prometheus was responsible for. However, it is well known how he helped mankind by taking fire from Zeus. Prometheus was thought to be the teacher of astronomy, medicine, navigation, metalworking, architecture, and writing. It is also sometimes thought that he was the creator of humankind. Zeus was extremely upset at Prometheus for stealing the fire and as a punishment had him chained to a rock. While chained to this rock, an eagle or a vulture plucked at his liver all day; it grew back each night. He was tortured day and night until Zeus released him after he gave information about the nymph Thetis. He knew that she would give birth to a son greater than his father. The centaur Chiron later helped him with immortality.

Stealing of Fire: There was a time when Prometheus decided to bring two wrapped packages containing the remains of a scarified ox. One package contained mean, and the other contained its bones. In order to fool Zeus, Prometheus wrapped the package containing the bones around fat. Zeus naturally thought that the package wrapped in fat was bigger and better; and so was tricked into picking the package of bones. Because of this, Zeus decided to not give humans the gift of fire. Prometheus was so upset that he decided to steal it from the god Hephaestus anyway.

In punishment of this theft Zeus sent the woman Hephaestus created (Pandora) to the world. She came carrying a bundle which she was not allowed to open or know its contents. Prometheus's brother took Pandora to be his bride, and the two opened the bundle. Upon opening all of the woes that human kind was to ever know were released.