Epimetheus

"Afterthought." The younger Titan of afterthought, the brother of Prometheus. His task was creating the creatures of the earth, while Prometheus created mankind. Seeing all the wonderful things his brother had made and their wonderful abilities, Prometheus decided to help his own creations and stole fire from heaven to assist them.

Zeus now, in order to punish men, caused Hephaestus to mold a virgin, Pandora, of earth, whom Athena adorned with all the charms calculated to entice mortals, and sent her to Epimetheus to be his bride. Prometheus had cautioned his brother against accepting any present from Zeus, but Epimetheus, disregarding the advice, accepted Pandora, who was sent to him by Zeus, through the mediation of Hermes. Pandora then lifted the lid of the vessel in which the foresight of Prometheus had concealed all the evils which might torment mortals in life. Diseases and sufferings of every kind now issued forth, but deceitful hope alone remained behind.

The daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora is Pyrrha, who later became the wife of Prometheus' son Deucalion.

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References

Sources

  • Hesiod. Theogony, 507 ff.
  • Ovid. Metamorphoses i, 381 ff.
  • Pseudo-Apollodorus. The Library i, 2.8, 7.2.
  • Smith, William. (1870). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. London: Taylor, Walton, and Maberly.

This article incorporates text from Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (1870) by William Smith, which is in the public domain.