In Greek mythology, Prometheus is the Titan whose name means “forethought,” contrasting with Pandora’s husband Epimetheus. Their names create a deliberate opposition: Prometheus is associated with planning ahead, while Epimetheus is associated with thinking afterward.
Prometheus is best known for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humanity. Zeus punishes him by having him chained to a mountain, where an eagle repeatedly eats his liver. The punishment reflects the importance Greek myth places on the boundary between divine power and human knowledge.
Epimetheus accepts Pandora even though Prometheus warns him not to accept gifts from Zeus. Pandora’s opening of the container then releases troubles into the human world. The names are sometimes confused because both characters are Titans and both end in “-metheus,” but their mythic functions are opposites.