Epimetheus was Pandora’s husband and the brother of Prometheus in Greek mythology.
The brothers’ names express a contrast. Prometheus means “forethought,” while Epimetheus is commonly understood as “afterthought” or “hindsight.” Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept a gift from Zeus, but Epimetheus accepted Pandora when Hermes brought her to him.
In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Epimetheus represents action followed by reflection. His acceptance of Pandora helps Zeus’s punishment reach humanity, although the myth does not present him as a modern-style villain. He is instead a figure whose judgment comes too late.
Epimetheus appears less often in popular culture than Prometheus, but the pair is important to the myth’s structure. Their contrasting names create a memorable lesson about foresight, impulse, and consequences.