In Hesiod’s story, Pandora joins Epimetheus before the jar is opened.
Epimetheus is a Titan and the brother of Prometheus. His name is commonly interpreted as “afterthought,” contrasting with Prometheus, whose name is associated with forethought. Zeus sends Pandora to Epimetheus as part of the punishment following Prometheus’s theft of fire for humanity.
Prometheus warns Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepts Pandora. In Works and Days, Pandora subsequently opens the storage vessel, releasing the troubles that had been contained inside. The account does not present the scene as a modern wedding narrative in the same detailed form, but Pandora is associated with Epimetheus as his companion or wife in later summaries.
The brothers’ names help explain the myth’s moral structure: Prometheus anticipates danger, while Epimetheus recognizes it afterward. This is why “epimethean” has sometimes been used for decisions made only after consequences become clear, although that later vocabulary is separate from the original story.