In Greek mythology, Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus, the man who accepted Pandora.
Prometheus and Epimetheus belong to the Titan family in Greek myth. Their names contrast with their qualities: Prometheus is commonly interpreted as “forethought,” while Epimetheus suggests “afterthought.” This contrast helps explain their roles in the Pandora story.
Prometheus had stolen fire from the gods and given it to humanity. He warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus received Pandora anyway. Pandora’s arrival and the opening of her jar then became part of Zeus’s punishment for the theft of fire.
The brothers appear together in several myths, but they are not interchangeable. Prometheus is linked with foresight, fire, and humanity; Epimetheus is linked with accepting Pandora and recognizing consequences too late. That relationship is one of the clearest pieces of the myth’s narrative structure.