EpimetheusEpimetheus
Epimetheus was a Titan and brother of Prometheus. His parents were Clymene, an Oceanid, and Iapetus, a titan. Epimetheus means he who thinks after, and was generaly regarded as a slow and dim-witted deity, as compared to his brother who was considered a champion of mankind and a thoughtful rebel. Epimetheus was also the husband of Pandora, with whom he may have fathered some of the first humans.
Zeus had Pandora 'created' by Athena and Haephestus as a punishment for Epimetheus. Epimetheus fell in love with Pandora despite his brother's warning to never accept a gift from the gods, not realizing that the gods had given her a box containing all the goods and evils of the world to tempt him. When finally he could resist opening the box no more, he opened it letting all the evils out onto mankind and all the goods, which returned to the gods, Pandora was able to close the box just in time to trap hope inside.
Epimetheus Links
Epimetheus, or the Spirit of Reflection. is a very interesting comparison essay on Prometheus and Epimetheus, and a vivid retelling of the relationship between Pandora and Epimetheus by Australian author David Malouf.
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