In Hesiod’s Greek myth, whom did Zeus arrange for Pandora to marry?

In Hesiod’s Greek myth, Zeus arranged for Pandora to marry Epimetheus. Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus, whose name means “forethought,” while Epimetheus is associated with “afterthought.”

Prometheus had warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepted Pandora when she was sent to him. In Works and Days, Pandora’s arrival forms part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire for mortals. The marriage therefore links Pandora’s story to the broader conflict between Zeus, Prometheus, and the human race.

Epimetheus is often remembered mainly as the man who received Pandora, but he has a larger role in Greek mythology. In some traditions, he and Prometheus are Titans who represent contrasting kinds of thought. Their names provide a moral contrast: careful foresight fails to protect Epimetheus from accepting Zeus’s gift, while his later regret illustrates the danger of acting without reflection. The story is mythological, not a historical account of an actual marriage.