Epimetheus is the Saturn moon that shares its name with Pandora’s husband in Greek mythology. The moon was named for the Titan Epimetheus, whose name is associated with afterthought.
In the myth, Epimetheus accepts Pandora despite Prometheus’s warning not to receive gifts from Zeus. Pandora later opens the storage jar, releasing troubles into the world. The astronomical name therefore connects a moon with a figure from the same story, although the moon itself has no physical relationship to the myth.
Epimetheus is also notable scientifically. It shares nearly the same orbit around Saturn as Janus. Every four years, the two moons exchange which one occupies the slightly inner and slightly outer orbit, producing a rare horseshoe orbital configuration.
The moon was first observed in 1966, but its orbit was not correctly understood until later observations. It is often mentioned with Janus rather than Pandora, because the Janus–Epimetheus system is one of its most unusual orbital features.