Epimetheus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A figure in Greek mythology known for his role as the brother of Prometheus and for acting as a caretaker of animals and the earth
2. In myth, the sibling of Prometheus who is often associated with the idea of hindsight and the consequences of his actions
3. A character in ancient stories who symbolizes the importance of reflection and learning from mistakes, especially regarding the creation of mankind

Etymology: The name of Prometheus's brother is built on a Greek word that means "afterthought" or "hindsight," and the myth turns that meaning into a character. In the traditional story, Epimetheus was given the task of handing out qualities to the animals, but he spent all of them before he reached humans. His brother Prometheus then stepped in to give people fire and skills, which is why the name seems to set one brother's foresight against the other's lack of it. In Greek, "epimētheús" is the form that carries this sense of looking back after the fact. The Greeks thus named a figure who acts too late, and the myth then gave him a role as the one who looked after the creatures of the earth, a caretaker whose gifts came after the decisions that mattered.