In Hesiod’s Works and Days, who first received Pandora as a bride?

In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Epimetheus first received Pandora as a bride. Epimetheus was the Titan brother of Prometheus, whose name is usually interpreted as “afterthought.”

Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus ignored the warning when Pandora arrived. Hesiod’s account makes this acceptance a key step in Zeus’s punishment of humanity. Pandora later opened the container that released troubles into the world.

The names of the two brothers create a deliberate contrast. Prometheus suggests forethought, while Epimetheus suggests thinking afterward. That contrast explains why later retellings often portray Epimetheus as less cautious than his brother.

A common mistake is to call Prometheus Pandora’s husband. Prometheus is linked to the theft of fire and to Zeus’s punishment on Mount Caucasus, but Hesiod identifies Epimetheus as Pandora’s companion. Later artistic and literary versions sometimes alter the relationships or combine details from different classical sources.