In Greek mythology, whom did Zeus give Pandora to as a wife?

In Greek mythology, Zeus gave Pandora to Epimetheus as a wife. Epimetheus was a Titan associated with hindsight and was the brother of Prometheus, the Titan who had helped humanity by stealing fire.

Prometheus had warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepted Pandora. Hesiod’s Works and Days presents Pandora’s arrival as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus took fire. Pandora then opened the container Zeus had sent with her, releasing suffering into the world.

The names of the two brothers help explain their contrasting roles. Prometheus is commonly interpreted as “forethought,” while Epimetheus is associated with “afterthought.” Their names are Greek compounds that became important symbols in later literature and philosophy.

Pandora is sometimes mistakenly described as Prometheus’s wife because Prometheus is the better-known figure in the myth. The traditional pairing in Hesiod’s story is Pandora and Epimetheus. Their marriage is a key link between the fire myth and the story of the container.