Editing Prometheus (section)

===== ''Works and Days'' =====
Hesiod revisits the story of Prometheus and the theft of fire in ''[[Works and Days]]''. In it the poet expands upon Zeus's reaction to Prometheus' deception. Not only does Zeus withhold fire from humanity, but "the means of life" as well. Had Prometheus not provoked Zeus's wrath, "you would easily do work enough in a day to supply you for a full year even without working; soon would you put away your rudder over the smoke, and the fields worked by ox and sturdy mule would run to waste".

Hesiod also adds more information to ''Theogony''{{'}}s story of the first woman, a maiden crafted from earth and water by Hephaestus now explicitly called Pandora ("''all gifts''"). Zeus in this case gets the help of Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes, the [[Graces]] and the [[Horae|Hours]]. After Prometheus steals the fire, Zeus sends Pandora in retaliation. Despite Prometheus' warning, Epimetheus accepts this "gift" from the gods. [[Pandora's box|Pandora carried a jar with her]] from which were released mischief and sorrow, plague and diseases. Pandora shuts the lid of the jar too late to contain all the evil plights that escaped, but Hope is left trapped in the jar because Zeus forces Pandora to seal it up before Hope can escape.