In the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box, Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus.
Prometheus and Epimetheus are brothers in Greek mythology. Their names express contrasting kinds of thought: Prometheus suggests forethought, while Epimetheus suggests hindsight. Prometheus therefore recognizes the danger of a gift from Zeus, but Epimetheus ignores the warning when Pandora arrives.
The warning is part of the larger conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. Prometheus had helped humanity and, in the best-known version of the myth, stolen fire for humans. Zeus responded with punishments that included sending Pandora, whose arrival brought a new burden to mortal life.
The story is sometimes blended with separate versions of the Prometheus myth. Hesiod’s Works and Days links Pandora with human suffering, while other ancient authors emphasize Prometheus’s theft of fire and his punishment. Prometheus remains the specific figure connected with warning Epimetheus in the Pandora episode.