In Greek mythology, Prometheus is a Titan known for his wily intelligence, who stole fire from Zeus and gave it to mortals for their use. His myth has been treated by a number of ancient sources, in which Prometheus is credited with (or blamed for) playing a pivotal role in the early history of humankind.

The picture shows Prometheus bound and punished on a mountain where an eagle eats of his flesh little by little everyday.

Tantalus is known for having been welcomed to Zeus’ table in Olympus, like Ixion. There he too misbehaved, stole ambrosia, brought it back to his people, and revealed the secrets of the gods. In a different story, Tantalus was blamed for indirectly having stolen the dog made of gold created by Hephaestus (god of metals and smithing) for Rhea to watch over infant Zeus. Tantalus’ friend Pandareus stole the dog and gave it to Tantalus for safekeeping. When asked later by Pandareus to return the dog, Tantalus denied that he had the dog, saying he “had neither seen nor heard of a golden dog.” According to Robert Graves, this incident is why an enormous stone hangs over Tantalus’ head. Others state that it was Tantalus who stole the dog, and gave it to Pandareus for safekeeping.

The Greeks of classical times claimed to be horrified by Tantalus’ doings; cannibalism, human sacrifice and parricide were atrocities and taboo. Tantalus was the founder of the cursed House of Atreus in which variations on these atrocities continued. Misfortunes also occurred as a result of these acts, making the house the subject of many Greek Tragedies.

Tantalus’ punishment, now proverbial for temptation without satisfaction (”tantalising”), was to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water receded before he could get any. Over his head towers a threatening stone, like that of Sisyphus.

Hermes, in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of commerce in general, and of the cunning of thieves and liars.

In Greek mythology, Autolycus was the son of Chione and Hermes. He was the father of Anticlea (who married Laertes of Ithaca and was the mother of Odysseus), and of several sons, of whom only Aesimus is named.

Autolycus was a renowned thief (skills passed down from his father, the God of Thieves) and wrestler (which he taught to Heracles). Autolycus stole the cattle of Sisyphus and the helmet that his grandson, Odysseus, eventually wore during the Trojan War. Autolycus was one of the Argonauts.He is also supposed to have been the one who took Eurytus’ (see Eurytus main article) mares (or cattle), leading to the murder of one his sons, Iphitus, in Heracles’ hands.