In Hesiod’s Greek myth of Pandora, Epimetheus receives Pandora as a gift from Zeus. Epimetheus is the brother of Prometheus and is portrayed as accepting Zeus’s gift despite his brother’s warning.
The name Epimetheus is commonly interpreted as relating to hindsight or afterthought, while Prometheus is associated with forethought. That contrast supports the myth’s characterization: Prometheus anticipates danger, whereas Epimetheus acts and understands the consequences later.
Pandora’s arrival follows Zeus’s punishment of Prometheus for stealing fire and giving it to humans. Zeus’s gift is therefore not presented as a kindness. Pandora brings with her a sealed container, which eventually releases disease, toil, and other forms of suffering.
Modern retellings sometimes say that Pandora was sent directly to Prometheus. In Hesiod’s version, however, Epimetheus is the recipient, and this distinction is important to the original narrative.