In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Epimetheus is Pandora’s husband after he accepts her among humanity.
Epimetheus is a Titan whose name is traditionally associated with “afterthought,” contrasting with his brother Prometheus, whose name is linked with foresight. Prometheus warns Epimetheus not to accept any gift from Zeus, but Epimetheus ignores the warning when Pandora arrives.
The marriage is important because it links Pandora directly to the opening of the container and the release of troubles into the human world. Hesiod’s story does not describe Pandora as an independent adventurer opening it alone; Epimetheus is the man who receives her, while the disastrous curiosity belongs to the household they share.
Modern retellings often omit Epimetheus or make Pandora the sole central actor. In the ancient literary tradition, however, the brothers form a deliberate contrast: Prometheus anticipates danger, while Epimetheus understands it only afterward.