In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Prometheus warned Pandora’s husband not to accept gifts from Zeus.
Pandora was sent to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. Prometheus, whose name suggests forethought, had advised Epimetheus not to accept anything from Zeus because he understood that the gift could conceal a punishment. Epimetheus, whose name is associated with afterthought, ignored the warning and accepted Pandora.
The contrast between the brothers is central to the story’s structure. Prometheus anticipates danger, while Epimetheus recognizes consequences only afterward. The later opening of the container completes that pattern. Pandora is sometimes described in modern summaries as the wife of Prometheus, but in Hesiod’s account she is associated with Epimetheus. The brothers’ names are therefore useful clues when distinguishing the original myth from simplified adaptations and popular retellings.