Prometheus was known as the benefactor of man but for his kindness he received centuries of suffering. He was punished because he took pity on the mortals when they were primitive, his punishment being chained to a mountain, having an eagle peck at his innards every day for eternity. Zeus had wished to change the Earth and did not wish to keep the mortals, by keeping them primitive, hoped for their extinction. Prometheus defied Zeus and gave the humans many gifts to make there lives easier such as: brickwork, woodworking, healing drugs, numbers, the alphabet, carriages, saddles, ships and sails, signs in the sky, telling the seasons by the stars, and the mining. But the most amazing and helpful gift was fire this allowed the mortals to become civilized. And it was this gift that infuriated Zeus so much and caused Prometheus to receive his fate.

He was freed by Herakles centuries later allowing him to finally escape his punishment.