Epimetheus
Epithemeus was the god of afterthought and the father of excuses. He was one of the first 12 original Titan giants who resided on Mount Olympus in the heavens. He and his brother, Prometheus were given the job of populating the Earth with mortals, and animals. Since Epimetheus used up all of the gifts he had been allotted for the job of giving the animals and humans equipment they might need. Since he left Prometheus’ humans without any equipment and totally helpless, he stole fire from heaven so they would have something for their defense. Another version of the story says that Prometheus stole the fire so it may be safe to assume that they may have plotted the idea between them. They were both in charge of making the animals and humans so they both may have planned the stealing of the fire together. Prometheus was tortured by Zeus for stealing the firs by being chained to a pillar and thrown in the pit of Tartarus, deep within the Earth. Later he was brought out and still chained, an eagle ate his liver out each day, and each night it was repaired, until Zeus gave Heracles permission to kill the eagle and release Prometheus. Zeus punished Epimetheus by ordering the creation of Pandora, the first woman. Pandora was very enticing and Epimetheus received her as his bride, but when Pandora opened her vessel, out came all of the evil and suffering that man knows today. She released a plague of harmful and evil spirits. The only thing left in the vessel was hope. This was the only thing the humans had to hang on to.
It is said that Iapetos married the lovely Klymene, the daughter of Okeanos, and went to her bed. The offspring of the two were Atlas, Menoitios, Prometheus, and Epimetheus. Epimetheus and Prometheus were given the power to equip the animals and humans. They made some of them small so they could burrow into the ground or fly, they made some big so they could defend themselves, some they gave speed, some they made slow. They were also in charge of the plants, trees, and flowers. They gave them roots stems and leaves, and to some they gave flowers. They put thick hair and thick skin on some and armed some of them and left some unarmed but gave those speed or wings or another way to protect themselves. The only problem with this was that when they got to equipping man, they had nothing left to arm them with. This was when they came up with the idea to steal the fire from Olympus.
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