In Greek mythology, Epimetheus accepted Pandora despite his brother Prometheus’s warning. Hesiod presents Epimetheus as the Titan who receives Pandora from Zeus, even though Prometheus had advised him never to accept gifts from Zeus.
The episode depends on the contrast between the brothers’ names and qualities. Prometheus is associated with forethought and recognizes the danger, while Epimetheus is associated with afterthought and acts before fully considering the consequences. Their opposition gives the myth a compact explanation for how Zeus’s plan succeeds.
After Epimetheus accepts Pandora, she becomes connected with the release of evils from the jar. The story does not portray Epimetheus as the person who opens it; that action belongs to Pandora. This is one of the details often blurred in short modern summaries.
Epimetheus is less familiar than Prometheus in modern culture, but he is essential to the traditional sequence. His acceptance makes Pandora’s arrival possible and illustrates the myth’s recurring contrast between foresight and belated understanding.