Cultural hero
In religious studies, a cultural hero is a human hero or deity who is assigned the invention or transmission of one of the essential cultural techniques (fire, agriculture, metalworking and the like).
The cultural hero often appears as an opponent of the gods, especially when the technology is not invented, but a jealously guarded knowledge is stolen from the gods. Examples are Prometheus from Greek mythology and Maui , worshiped by the Maori , who stole fire from the gods and brought it to the people. Cultural heroes play an important role in many ethnic religions .
Especially when he appears as a cunning thief, the cultural hero often shows traits of the trickster , the divine prankster.