In Greek mythology, Pandora’s husband after she received the sealed jar from Zeus was Epimetheus. His name means “afterthought,” contrasting with that of his brother Prometheus, whose name means “forethought.”
Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus welcomed Pandora. In Hesiod’s account, Pandora was created as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire for mortals. Pandora then opened the container that released troubles into the world.
The myth is often retold as though Pandora were married to Prometheus, but the ancient story specifically identifies Epimetheus as her husband. Epimetheus is also associated with the creation of animals: in some traditions, he distributed useful qualities among animals before realizing that humans had been left without protection. Prometheus later compensated for this by giving humanity fire and skill. The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” comes from a later mistranslation or adaptation; Hesiod described a jar, not a box.