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In Greek mythology, Epimetheus (Greek: Ἐπιμηθεύς; "hindsight", literally "afterthought", but in the manner of a fool looking behind, while running forward) was the brother of Prometheus ("foresight", literally "fore-thought"), two Titans who "acted as representatives of mankind".[1] They were the inseparable children of Iapetus, who in some sources is the father of Atlas. Epimetheus is foolish, compared to his intelligent brother Prometheus. He was the Titan of afterthought and the creator of animals.

In mythology[]

Concurring to Plato's utilization of the ancient myth in his Protagoras (320d–322a), the twin Titans were depended with conveying the characteristics among the recently made creatures. Epimetheus was capable for giving a positive characteristic to each creature, but when it was time to provide man a positive characteristic, missing foreknowledge he found that there was nothing left. Prometheus chosen that humankind's traits would be the civilizing expressions and fire, which he stole from Athena and Hephaestus. Prometheus afterward stood trial for his wrongdoing. Within the setting of Plato's discourse, "Epimetheus, the being in whom thought follows production, speaks to nature within the sense of realism, concurring to which thought comes afterward than neglectful bodies and their negligent movements."

Agreeing to Hesiod, who related the story twice (Theogony, 527ff; Works and Days 57ff), Epimetheus was the one who acknowledged the blessing of Pandora from the divine beings. Their marriage may be induced (and was by afterward creators), but it isn't made express in either content. In afterward myths, the girl of Epimetheus and Pandora was Pyrrha, who hitched Deucalion, a relative of Prometheus. Together they are the as it were two people who survived the deluge. In a few accounts, Epimetheus had another girl, Metameleia, whose title implies "lament of what has happened" for those that don't arrange ahead will as it were feel distress when adversity strikes. Others say that Epimetheus' spouse was called Ephyra, girl of Oceanus.

Epimetheus

Epimetheus and Pandora by El Greco

References[]

  1. (Kerenyi 1951, p 207),
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