In Greek mythology, Epimetheus accepted Pandora despite Prometheus warning him not to receive gifts from Zeus.
Epimetheus and Prometheus are brothers in Greek myth, and their names are often interpreted as contrasting forms of thought. Prometheus is associated with forethought, while Epimetheus is associated with afterthought. This contrast supports the narrative: Prometheus recognizes the danger, but Epimetheus acts too late to avoid it.
Hesiod’s Works and Days says that Epimetheus took Pandora as a gift from Zeus. The story places her arrival within Zeus’s punishment for Prometheus’s theft of fire. Once Pandora opens the jar, destructive conditions spread among humans, changing the explanation of why mortal life includes suffering.
The myth does not make Epimetheus the maker of Pandora or the god who gives her gifts. Those roles belong to the broader assembly of divine figures involved in her creation. Epimetheus’s distinctive role is receiving her despite the warning.