In the Pandora myth, whom did Zeus order to receive Pandora as his wife?

In the Pandora myth, Zeus ordered Epimetheus to receive Pandora as his wife.

Epimetheus was a Titan and the brother of Prometheus. His name is traditionally explained as “afterthought,” contrasting with Prometheus, whose name means “forethought.” This contrast shapes the myth: Prometheus warns Epimetheus not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus nevertheless accepts Pandora when she arrives.

In Hesiod’s version, Pandora is fashioned and equipped by the gods before being sent to Epimetheus. She brings the sealed vessel whose opening releases troubles into the human world. The story consequently presents Epimetheus as a figure whose judgment comes too late, matching the meaning attached to his name.

Epimetheus is less prominent than Prometheus in later popular culture, but the pairing is essential to the Pandora narrative. The myth is not simply about an isolated woman opening a container; it is also about divine retaliation, dangerous gifts, and the consequences of failing to heed a warning.