Theft of fire

The theft of fire for the benefit of humanity is a theme that recurs in many world mythologies, symbolizing the acquisition of knowledge, or technology, and its transformative impact on civilization.

The destructive power of atomic bombs is likened to Prometheus's act, symbolizing the dangerous knowledge humanity has gained.

[5] Among various Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest and First Nations, fire was stolen and given to humans by Coyote, Beaver or Dog.

[7] In Cherokee myth, after Possum and Buzzard had failed to steal fire, Grandmother Spider used her web to sneak into the land of light.

[15][16] While Omoikane in Japanese mythology is not directly associated with the theft of fire, he fits into the broader motif of bringing light and knowledge to humanity, which parallels the Promethean myth.

Omoikane is revered for his wisdom and strategic thinking, particularly in the myth where he helps orchestrate the plan to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu out of her cave, restoring light to the world.

[21][22] In one of the versions of Georgian myth, Amirani stole fire from metalsmiths, who refused to share it – and knowledge of creating it – with other humans.

[citation needed] The story of Faust in German folklore and legends aligns with the Promethean motif of the theft of fire, as it also features a protagonist who seeks forbidden knowledge and power through a pact with the devil, Mephistopheles.

Further comparisons to Prometheus have been made in publications by the United Nations,[30] MIT's Technology Review[31] and Harvard's Nuclear Study Group.

[32] The "theft of fire" metaphor has also been used to argue against the proliferation of nuclear weapons by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute[33][34] and repeatedly by statesman Henry Kissinger as early as 1957,[35] at the Munich Security Conference[36] and as part of the Nuclear Threat Initiative with former Senator Sam Nunn, former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former Secretary of State George Shultz.