In Greek mythology, what was Pandora’s husband called in ancient Greek?

The story behind the answer

In Greek mythology, Pandora’s husband was called Epimetheus.

Epimetheus is a Titan whose name is commonly translated as “afterthought” or “hindsight.” He is the brother of Prometheus, whose name is associated with forethought. This contrast is central to the myth’s characterization: Prometheus warns against accepting Zeus’s gift, while Epimetheus accepts Pandora despite that warning.

The marriage places Pandora in the Titan family and provides the narrative setting for the opening of the container. In Hesiod’s version, Pandora is sent to Epimetheus by Zeus after Prometheus’s theft of fire. Her arrival therefore appears as part of a larger conflict between Zeus, Prometheus, and humanity.

Epimetheus is less famous than Prometheus, so popular culture often omits him or substitutes Prometheus as Pandora’s companion. That substitution changes an important feature of the myth. Prometheus is Pandora’s brother-in-law, not her husband. Epimetheus’s role also explains the myth’s wordplay: the person associated with “afterthought” fails to anticipate the danger of a divine gift.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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