Epimetheus.
Understanding arrives too late
Epimetheus: Greek Titan, Pandora and Prometheus’s Brotheris the brother whose understanding comes afterward. His acceptance of and his mistakes in a philosophical creation story make him a counterpart to ’s forward-looking intelligence.
More than a myth.
The brother of Prometheus
names among the sons of and . The family gives related figures sharply different destinies: bears the heavens, suffers for his conflict with , and Epimetheus becomes entangled in the consequences of a gift. Their stories explore several limits on resistance to the ruling god.
Epimetheus and Pandora
In , warns his brother not to accept a gift from . nevertheless receives and understands the danger afterward. The episode belongs to ’s explanation of toil and suffering in human life. Pandora’s vessel is a jar in the ancient account, despite the familiar later phrase Pandora’s box.
A different story in Plato
In ’s Protagoras, distributes protective abilities among animals but exhausts the supplies before providing for humans. then steals technical skill and fire. This philosophical story uses the brothers to examine human vulnerability and the conditions of social life; it is a separate presentation from ’s narrative.
Questions about Epimetheus
What does Epimetheus mean?
His name is commonly understood as afterthought, contrasting with the forethought associated with . The stories repeatedly make that contrast consequential.
Who is Pandora’s husband?
receives in ’s account and is her partner in the mythic family. Their daughter appears in later accounts of the great flood.
It’s a family affair.
The stories of Epimetheus.
Ancient voices.
Enduring stories.
Myths have many tellings. These are the ancient works behind this profile, linked to freely available English translations.
Theogony
Lines 507–514
Works and Days
Lines 60–105
Protagoras
320c–322d · collected passages