In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Epimetheus received Pandora as his wife.
Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus and represented hindsight, while Prometheus was associated with forethought. Zeus sent Pandora to Epimetheus after Prometheus had stolen fire for humanity. Although Prometheus had warned him not to accept gifts from Zeus, Epimetheus accepted Pandora.
Pandora then opened the container entrusted to her, releasing suffering and other evils into the human world. The myth uses the brothers’ contrasting names and actions to emphasize the danger of acting without foresight.
Epimetheus is sometimes confused with Prometheus because both appear in the same myth cycle. Prometheus is the fire-bringer and the one who anticipates danger; Epimetheus is the recipient of Pandora and the figure associated with belated understanding.