In Greek mythology, to whom did Zeus send Pandora as a gift?

In Greek mythology, Zeus sent Pandora as a gift to Epimetheus. This event follows Prometheus’s theft of fire and forms the immediate background to Pandora’s container.

Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus, the Titan who helped humanity and then angered Zeus by taking fire. Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepted Pandora anyway.

The story is not simply a tale about a curious woman acting alone. Hesiod presents Pandora’s arrival as part of Zeus’s response to Prometheus. Pandora’s creation and marriage therefore belong to a larger conflict involving divine authority, fire, sacrifice, and the condition of human life.

Modern versions often describe the vessel as a box and focus on Pandora’s action. The older Greek account instead emphasizes Zeus’s gift to Epimetheus and the consequences that follow.