In Greek mythology, who was Pandora married to when she opened the jar?

In Greek mythology, Pandora was married to Epimetheus when she opened the jar.

Hesiod presents Pandora as a woman created by the gods and sent to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. Prometheus had warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepted Pandora anyway. Their marriage places the jar episode within Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire.

Epimetheus’s name is often explained as meaning “afterthought,” contrasting with Prometheus, whose name is associated with forethought. The contrast helps explain his role in the myth: he acts after the consequences become clear, while his brother is portrayed as more cautious and farsighted.

A common mix-up identifies Prometheus as Pandora’s husband because Prometheus is the better-known human benefactor in the story. He is not her spouse in Hesiod’s account. Pandora and Epimetheus later became associated with Pyrrha in traditions about the survival of humanity after a great flood, although those genealogical details vary among ancient sources.