In Hesiod’s Pandora myth, Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus.
Prometheus had already angered Zeus by stealing fire and giving it to humanity. When Zeus sent Pandora as a punishment, Prometheus recognized the danger and advised his brother Epimetheus to reject gifts from the ruler of the gods. Epimetheus ignored the warning and accepted Pandora, who later opened the container entrusted to her.
The names of the brothers are meaningful in Greek. Prometheus is commonly interpreted as “forethought,” while Epimetheus is associated with “afterthought.” Their contrasting names reflect their roles: Prometheus anticipates danger, whereas Epimetheus acts and understands the consequences afterward.
The warning does not prevent the myth’s catastrophe. In Hesiod’s account, Pandora’s arrival explains why troubles spread among humans, while the remaining hope offers a complicated final element. Later retellings often shorten the story and omit Prometheus’s warning entirely.