FIRE THEFT MYTHS

[Themes] A common theme in mythology where a god or god-like being or a culture hero, a part often played by a trickster, steals fire from the gods and presents it to mankind. Fire was the sole property of the gods and those who dared stealing it were often punished most direly. The Greek Prometheus stole fire and Zeus had him chained to a rock. Each day, a giant eagle swept down from the sky and tore out his liver, and each day the liver grew back.