Epimetheus in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Epimetheus

5 passages from 2 ancient authors that tell of Epimetheus, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Epimetheus was one of the Titans, son of Iapetus and Clymene. He was the brother of Prometheus, Atlas and Menoetius. His name is derived from the Gree... For the story in one place, read our article on Epimetheus.

Hesiod (2)

Hesiod, Works and Days 40–104Prometheus, fire and Pandora (40-104)The gods keep the means of life hidden from men, and Zeus hides fire because Prometheus deceived him; Prometheus steals it back in a fennel-stalk. As the price for fire Zeus has Hephaestus mould a maiden, whom Athena, Aphrodite, Hermes and the Graces equip with skills, charm and a deceitful nature. She is named Pandora and sent to Epimetheus, who accepts her despite Prometheus's warning, and she lifts the lid of the jar and scatters evils among men, while Hope alone stays inside.
Hesiod, Theogony 505–534The sons of Iapetus: Atlas, Menoetius, Prometheus and Epimetheus (505-534)Iapetus and Clymene have four sons. Menoetius is struck down by Zeus for his arrogance, Atlas is made to hold up the sky, and the crafty Prometheus is bound, with an eagle sent to eat his liver, until Heracles kills it and frees him. Epimetheus, who took the first woman from Zeus, is introduced as a source of trouble for men.

Plato (3)

Plato, Protagoras 321a–322eProtagoras' myth: Epimetheus and Prometheus; Zeus sends justice and reverence by HermesProtagoras tells that once there were gods but no mortal creatures, and when the time for their creation came, the gods formed them inside the earth, and ordered Prometheus and Epimetheus to equip them with qualities. Epimetheus asked to make the distribution and gave strength to some and swiftness to others, protecting the weak by speed or wings, and, being not very wise, used up all the powers on the animals and left man naked and unarmed. Prometheus stole the mechanical arts of Hephaestus and Athene, with fire, and gave them to man, who thus had the wisdom for life but not political wisdom, which was kept by Zeus. Man worshipped the gods and made speech and houses, but when men gathered in cities they wronged each other, so Zeus, afraid that the race would perish, sent Hermes with reverence and justice, to be given to all.
Plato, Protagoras 318a–320eWhat Protagoras teaches; can political virtue be taught?Socrates asks what Hippocrates will gain by studying with Protagoras, and Protagoras answers that he will go home better every day, in prudence in private and public affairs, which is the art of politics, and that he undertakes to make men good citizens. Socrates says that he had thought that virtue could not be taught, because in the assembly, when the Athenians discuss a building, they call on the architects, but when it is a matter of state they let anyone speak. The wisest and best citizens, he adds, do not pass on their virtue to others, as Pericles had his sons taught everything that masters could teach but left them to wander like grazing cattle, and Cleinias, brother of Alcibiades, had to be sent away by Pericles. Protagoras answers that he will show it either by a story or by an argument, and the company asks him to choose.
Plato, Protagoras 360a–362aCourage as knowledge; the argument laughs at Socrates and Protagoras; the endSocrates asks Protagoras whether courageous men go against dangers believing them to be dangers, and Protagoras answers that they go against what they know to be fearful when they know it, since only the cowardly go to what they think is safe. He concludes that courage is the wisdom of what is and is not to be feared, and Protagoras, who had said that courage is different from wisdom, reluctantly agrees, and is silent. Socrates says that the argument is laughing at them, since he began by saying that virtue cannot be taught and now argues that virtue is knowledge, and Protagoras began by saying that it can be taught and now says that it is anything rather than knowledge. He says that he prefers Prometheus to Epimetheus, who forgot man in the story, and that they should continue the inquiry at another time, and the conversation ends.