essay question pandora's box

A Summary and Analysis of the ‘Pandora’s Box’ Myth

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The story or myth of ‘Pandora’s box’ is slightly unusual among Greco-Roman myths in having its origins – at least its written origins – not in the work of Homer or later myth-collectors like the great Roman poet Ovid, but in the Greek didactic poet Hesiod, who tells the story of Pandora’s box in his Works and Days , a poem composed in around 700 BC.

Hesiod is our source for the myth of Pandora’s box, and it’s revealing that the story first appears in a poem that was written with the intention of instructing the Greeks in how to live their lives and till the fields. The myth continues to inspire new poetry .

Pandora’s box: summary

Before we offer a summary of the story of Pandora’s box, and analyse its meaning, it’s best to do a bit of myth-busting of our own: ‘Pandora’s box’ wasn’t actually a box. Pandora’s ‘box’ was actually Pandora’s jar. It only became a box in the sixteenth century, when the Dutch scholar Erasmus mistranslated the ancient Greek word πίθος or pithos (‘jar’); Erasmus confused it with another Greek word πυξίς or pyxis (‘box’). So it’s Erasmus we have to thank for Pandora’s ‘box’, which is more properly a jar.

In Hesiod, then, it’s a jar that Pandora opens. But who was Pandora, and what was she doing with a jar?

Hesiod’s Works and Days provides a mythic origin story for the need to work in life, then, which might be likened to the Judaeo-Christian story of Adam having to till the fields following his expulsion from the Garden of Eden (we will return to this parallel in a moment). But it’s more than just an almanac or instruction-manual. It’s a unique hodgepodge of these, myth, fable, creation story, and much else.

Hesiod wrote Works and Days for his brother, Perses. Hesiod lays out the meaning of the Pandora myth with admirable clarity by pairing it with the story of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give to man. (Hesiod’s poem is also, by the way, our oldest source for the Prometheus story as well as the Pandora myth.)

The tale of Prometheus is well-known because it explains how mankind came into possession of fire, thus enabling man to form civilisations. Prometheus served up some ox for his cousin, Zeus, and the other gods, as well as for the first men.

Prometheus, known for his cunning, served up the ox in two ways: to Zeus and the other gods, he offered up the ox’s stomach, which didn’t look very appealing as you can imagine. Inside the stomach, he had concealed the meat and entrails rich in fat, as well as the fleshy skin of the ox.

Meanwhile, to the men, Prometheus served up the ox’s bones, which he had concealed beneath a tasty-looking layer of the animal’s fat.

Zeus was annoyed. Why had Prometheus given the juicy-looking portions to the mere mortals, while he and the other deities were being served up nothing but the ox’s stomach? He called out Prometheus on this. Prometheus invited Zeus to choose whichever of the two servings he would prefer, in that case.

But Zeus was too canny to be tricked, and promptly inspected the fatty bones and stomach full of juicy meat. Realising Prometheus had meant to trick him, he grew angry with his cousin for trying to give the juicy portions of the ox to mere men, and as retribution, Zeus denied man the power of fire.

Because Prometheus had tried to trick the gods, Zeus devised a punishment for mankind that would let evil into the world. And this is where the story of Pandora and her box – or rather, jar – comes in.

This punishment took the form of the first woman, Pandora, whose name means ‘All-Gifts’, because Zeus got Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to deliver to man via Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. Prometheus warned his brother not to accept gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus didn’t heed the warning.

Pandora unstopped a jar Epimetheus had in his possession for safe-keeping, the jar containing all the toils and sicknesses and other unspecified evils, and in taking the lid off the jar, Pandora let them out into the world.

Pandora’s box: analysis

It is worth thinking about the end of the myth and the idea that hope is the last thing remaining in the box – or, rather, in the jar.

This actually makes what seems like a clear and powerful myth somewhat muddled: if Pandora’s opening of the jar let out all of the evils so they went roaming into the world, surely it would make more sense to let hope out too, so it could go out into the world and counter them?

Keeping hope locked up in the jar is a bit like infecting the atmosphere with a deadly virus and locking the antidote up in a drawer somewhere. Surely the antidote should be out there in the world, making people better?

But one way to resolve this apparent inconsistency is to say that the jar represents humankind’s control over things, and whilst they cannot control the ills of the world once they have been let out into the world, they can keep hope alive inside – whereas to let that out too would be to see it dissipated and dissolved into the air.

But was ‘hope’ really the last thing left in Pandora’s box (sorry, jar)? The word Hesiod uses is Elpis (Ἔλπις), which can mean ‘hope’ but is often also translated as meaning ‘expectation’. Despite the similar meanings of the two words, they are, after all, not precise synonyms – so it may be that ‘expectation’ rather than ‘hope’ was the last thing left in the jar (rather than box).

The myth of Pandora’s box – or Pandora’s jar – is very much the ‘Fall of Man’ story for the ancient Greeks, the pagan equivalent of the story of Adam and Eve’s expulsion from the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis.

In the Book of Genesis, the serpent famously tells ‘the woman’ (i.e., Eve) that she and Adam will not die if they eat of the tree of knowledge, as they had been warned by God would happen; rather, eating of the forbidden fruit will enable them to know what good and evil are and they will be like gods. Eve is won over by this argument, with her curiosity concerning the fruits of the tree of knowledge leading her to view the fruit as a gateway to wisdom, if eaten. This is much like the curiosity of Pandora in the Greek myth.

Of course, Eve eats from the tree and gives Adam some of the fruit to eat too. Their eyes are immediately opened, and they are ashamed of their nakedness, and fashion fig leaves to make themselves ‘aprons’ to cover their nakedness. God appears walking in the garden, and Adam and Eve promptly hide themselves. Knowledge, it turns out, is not all it is cracked up to be.

As a result of their curiosity, Adam and Eve will now be mortal, and will die, as God told them they would. Famously, God tells Adam, ‘for dust thou art , and unto dust shalt thou return’ (3:19). So one can draw a number of parallels between Pandora, the first woman, and Eve, the first woman.

Consider just a few of the similarities between the two tales. Both stories share a number of key features: they are both about how ‘evil’ comes into a world where it was previously unknown; they both attempt to explain why man must work for a living rather than sit about enjoying himself; they are both about the dangers of curiosity or seeking to know too much; and they both lay the blame for letting evil into the world squarely (and somewhat unfairly) at the feet of the first created woman, Pandora/Eve.

Discover the truth about more classic Greek stories with our post about the beauty of Helen of Troy and our discussion of the Trojan Horse that probably was no horse, wooden or otherwise, at all.

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6 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of the ‘Pandora’s Box’ Myth”

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I think this story teaches us that human curiosity and impulse can lead to disaster. It emphasizes the importance of caution, heeding warnings, and moderate control of one’s desires. This can also be seen as an allegory for the inherent weakness of human beings, warning people to remain rational and cautious when facing temptation.

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Pandora’s Box: A Greek Myth about Curiosity (and More)

The myth of Pandora’s Box is not just a cautionary tale about curiosity. It also reveals how ancient Greeks viewed women, technological advancements, and morality.

The phrase “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” may refer to the Trojan horse — the wooden structure that helped Greeks sneak into Troy — but the myths surrounding dangerous gifts go beyond Homer’s epic poems. A great example is “Pandora’s Jar” or “Pandora’s Box”, as it is widely known. Pandora, a “dangerous” woman in ancient Greek mythology, was both a blessing and a curse. Created by the gods to serve humanity, Pandora ended up opening the box containing all evils, releasing them into the world. At first glance, the myth warns about the dangers of naivety and curiosity. However, it reveals a lot more than we think about the way ancient Greeks viewed women, life’s struggles, technological advancements, and more.

The Myth of Pandora and Her Box: How Was She Created?

Pandora is an important character in ancient Greek mythology. She is widely known as “the first woman to walk on planet Earth”, a female figure similar to the biblical Eve . However, this perception of Pandora is often disputed. Although it is not clear whether other women existed beforehand, we do know that she was crafted by the gods to be the perfect female. She possessed the most valuable feminine characteristics of that time: beauty, grace, and the ability to weave .

“ Forthwith then he fashioned evil for men in requital for the fire bestowed. For from the earth the famous Hephaistos, halting in both feet, fashioned the image of a modest maiden, through the counsels of the son of Kronos. And the goddess glancing-eyed Athena girded and arrayed her in silver-white raiment;” Hesiod’s Theogony (line 570)

What Was in Pandora’s Box?

Pandora’s story has survived to this day, thanks to poet Hesiod’s works. In his poem Theogony , Hesiod describes Pandora as a gift that the gods offered to humanity. The name of the heroine also suggests this; Pandora can be translated as “All-Gifted” or “All-Giving” . This divine gift, however, was an act of theodicy . The gods of Mount Olympus wanted to punish humans for acquiring the great gift of fire with the help of the Titan Prometheus . The latter felt that humans were too vulnerable in a world full of dangers. In an effort to create balance on Earth, Prometheus offered humans the ability to start fires, which enabled them to protect themselves. At the same time, fire allowed humans to become creators, an ability that enraged the gods.

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In Hesiod’s Works and Days , it is understood that the divine punishment humans received came in the form of Pandora and the pithos (jar) she brought with her. The woman was created by god Hephaestus and was sent to Prometheus’ residence with the help of god Hermes . There, Prometheus’ brother, Epimetheus, accepted the offer to marry Pandora and gladly received her pithos — an item they were warned to always keep closed. One day, a curiosity-filled Pandora removed the pithos’ lid. As a result, a number of evils were released on Planet Earth, including diseases and the woes of old age. Pandora, however, was able to close the lid just before the last element had escaped: hope. Humanity was now in a perpetual cycle of suffering and hoping that better times will come.

Pandora’s myth has survived to this day, with the phrase “opening Pandora’s box”, a metaphor for “causing many troubles and problems”. The exact reason for using the word “box” instead of “pithos” or “jar” is not fully clear. However, most scholars attribute it to an Erasmian mistranslation of the 16th century CE. Since then, most artistic depictions of Pandora show her holding a box instead of a jar.

The Theme of Sinful Curiosity 

“Curiosity killed the cat” is a proverb that dates back to Ben Jonson’s play Every Man in His Humor from 1598. The phrase warns people of the dangers of inquisitiveness — a common lesson from cautionary tales. It is more than clear that “Pandora’s box” is a story that revolves around the trope of sinful curiosity. Although Pandora was crafted by the gods to be the perfect woman, she also possessed countless negative characteristics; curiosity was the most dangerous of them all. Just like the biblical Eve couldn’t resist the urge of trying the forbidden fruit, Pandora couldn’t stop herself from opening the jar of all evils. She was told that the item was off limits, without any specific explanations. Therefore, she had to check for herself.

Today, curiosity is perceived as neither positive nor negative. Looking back in time, however, we can see depictions of the dangers of excessive curiosity in visual arts and literature. That was especially true for the depiction of curious women, who were seen as more dangerous than curious men. In the 19th century, it was not uncommon for women to be depicted as nosy neighbors, peeking through windows and fences. As the scholar Theodor Ziolkowski explains in his book The Sin of Knowledge , Prometheus’ myth (which is intertwined with the one of Pandora) formed the western idea of sinful curiosity. This perception was of course highlighted with the biblical fall of Adam and Eve; it all started with a bite of forbidden knowledge, literally and metaphorically.

The Theme of Hopelessness

Apart from sinful curiosity, a key element in Pandora’s myth is no other than hope. It is also the most enigmatic one. Hope is normally seen as a positive; an optimistic state of mind that motivates people to keep going at the hardest of times. In Pandora’s myth, however, it is perceived as a curse. Hope was trapped inside the jar of all evils, trapping humans in a never-ending cycle of misery and struggle.

“ Many are the evils that an idle man, who keeps expecting that his empty hope will become the real thing, in want of life-sustenance, takes to his thūmos. It is not a real hope that cares for a man who is in need, as he sits around in a lounge while he has no adequate means.” Hesiod’s Works and Days (line 498)

If hope is evil, is hopelessness positive? The answer to this burning question is perhaps answered by the chorus in Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound . In his play, the ancient Greek tragedian changes the narrative by having the philanthropic Titan offer two gifts to humanity: fire and hope. The latter seems to have enraged the gods the most; hope is a bigger benefit to humans than fire. Fire might help them progress in life but hope is what keeps them going even after their progress is stalled.

“P ROMETHEUS  Inside their hearts I put blind hope. CHORUS  With that, you gave great benefits to humankind .” Prometheus Bound (311-312)

The Theme of Gifts of Destruction

Perhaps, the most important lesson from Pandora’s box is the necessity of skepticism towards unexpected gifts. The “doron” (gift) of Pandora was a jar full of evils. It was presented to Prometheus and Epimetheus as an offering of the generous gods. They accepted it into their home and the results were catastrophic. The gift was a punishment in disguise, a gift of destruction.

“ Pandōrā, because all the gods who abide in Olympus gave her as a gift [dōron], a pain for grain-eating men. But when the gods completed this deception of sheer doom, against which there is no remedy, Father Zeus sent the famed Argos-killer to Epimetheus, the swift messenger of the gods, bringing the gift [dōron] .” Hesiod Works and Days (lines 81-85)

Gifts of destruction are a common trope in ancient Greek mythology. In Homer’s Odyssey and in Virgil’s Aeneid , we learn about the cunning plan of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, that ended the Trojan War. The Ithacan king had reportedly asked the master carpenter Epeius to build a hollow wooden horse. The gigantic structure would be the Greeks’ vessel to enter the walled city of Troy and retrieve queen Helen . They would leave it at Troy’s gates, pretending they deserted the war and that the horse was their peace offering. At a time when such tactics were rare, Odysseus’ plan worked ; the Greeks entered the city during the day and attacked once it was dark and the Trojans were asleep. Just like the Trojan Horse, Pandora’s jar was a gift of destruction.

Similarly, Pandora’s myth is also a cautionary tale for inviting strangers into one’s home. Philoxenia (hospitality) was a sacred custom in ancient Greece. Both the host and the guest had to follow an extensive list of rules. At a time when there were no hotels or rooms to let, denying a traveler entry to your home was an act of hybris. At the same time, guests were obliged to respect their hosts and not become a threat or a burden to them. In the Odyssey , we see Odysseus reclaiming his kingdom from a group of disrespectful visitors. Similarly, Pandora’s myth reminds us to be cautious when inviting people into our homes. Hermes’ unexpected visit to Prometheus’ residence seemed innocent at first, only to end with the god leaving a gift of destruction behind.

The First Woman: Pandora and Eve

Although it is not fully clear whether other women existed before Pandora, her character bears many similarities to biblical Eve . In the book of Genesis , the first woman was created by God to live abundantly with Adam in the Garden of Eden. After being the first to bite the forbidden fruit, she was blamed for the “fall of mankind”. Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden and were forced to live a life full of pain and, eventually, death. Similarly, Pandora’s curiosity resulted in humans losing their own version of paradise. Throughout time, both women have been portrayed as symbols of evil, shaping the way women are viewed universally.

“ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. ” Genesis 3:6

The Dangers of Technology

The myth of Pandora did not only influence the way women are still viewed in many cultures; it also inspired the West’s skepticism towards technological advancements. That is especially true for a rtificial intelligence and humanoid robots , since Pandora was an artificial woman herself. She was crafted by Hephaestus, the Greek god of metallurgy, who often used his skills to create robot-like helpers . Hephaestus would craft “automatons” — self-operating machines made of metal. A great example is Talos, the gigantic bronze guardian of the island of Crete. Pandora was another creation of Hephaestus’ craftmanship, but, in this case, she failed to protect and assist humans. Instead, she didn’t follow her creator’s instructions and ended up opening the jar of evils.

Interestingly enough, the philosopher and researcher Yuk Hui includes “Pandora’s box” in the category of myths that influenced the West’s approach towards technology. In The Question Concerning Technology in China: An Essay in Cosmotechnics (2016), Hui compares China’s rapid modernization to the one of Europe. In China, there is a great emphasis on the spiritual aspects of technology, focusing on sustaining a balance between humanity and nature. On the other hand, the Western concept of technology derives from the Greek idea of “techne”, which emphasizes the mastery of nature.

Moreover, westerners often appear more hesitant in developing and adopting robotics and artificial intelligence. This skepticism can be attributed to the European way of thinking, which is greatly influenced by the study of the classics. Myths such as the ones of Pandora and Prometheus are no other than cautionary tales for the dangers of smart technology.

The Myth of Pandora’s Box: Intent and Morality

The western judicial system takes the element of criminal intent into consideration. For example, a person’s death caused by negligence is not punished as harshly as one caused by malice. Sentences vary from country to country, but the idea that intent matters, remains important. In moral philosophy, good intent often equals morality. The German philosopher Immanuel Kant established a scientific morality with a focus on good will — the intention of doing good.

“ Nothing in the world -indeed nothing even beyond the world- can possibly be conceived which could be called good without qualification, except a good will .” Immanuel Kant Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals

Based on this perspective, many questions arise regarding Pandora’s evil nature. In Hesiod’s works, it is not clear whether Pandora wanted to cause harm by opening the box. We are led to assume that she was motivated from curiosity mixed with naivety. The “fall of humankind” could be described as an “accident” in this case. However, regardless of her intentions, she is clearly described as “evil”. Pandora failed to follow an important rule, resulting in catastrophe. This is an aspect that is often overlooked when analyzing this myth. Perhaps, the most important lesson from “Pandora’s box” is that intentions are not enough and that the absence of ill will doesn’t necessary equal good will.

Who Won the Trojan War?

By Marialena Perpiraki MSc. Media & Convergence, BA Communication, Media & Culture Marialena is a journalist and content writer with an interest in comparative mythology and folklore. She holds a BA in Communications, Media & Culture from Panteion University of Athens and an MSc. in Media & Convergence Management from AAU, Austria. She is the creator of the cross-media platform Helinika.

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The myth of Pandora’s box

The myth of Pandora’s box is considered one of the most descriptive myths of human behavior in Greek mythology. Ancient Greeks used this myth not only to instruct themselves about the weaknesses of humans, but also to explain several misfortunes of the human race.

Pandora, the first woman on Earth

Pandora was, according to the myth, the first woman on Earth. She was created by Gods; each one of them gave her a gift, thus, her name in Greek means “the one who bears all gifts”.

Pandora was created as a punishment to the mankind; Zeus wanted to punish people because Prometheus stole the fire to give it to them. Her gifts were beautifully evil, according to Hesiod. Hephaestus created her from clay, shaping her perfectly, Aphrodite gave her femininity and Athena taught her crafts. Hermes was ordered by Zeus to teach her to be deceitful, stubborn and curious.

Pandora’s box

Pandora was given a box or a jar, called “pithos” in Greek. Gods told her that the box contained special gifts from them but she was not allowed to open the box ever. Then Hermes took her to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus, to be his wife. Prometheus had advised Epimetheus not to accept anything from the Gods, but he saw Pandora and was astonished by her beauty, thus he accepted her right away.

Pandora was trying to tame her curiosity, but at the end she could not hold herself anymore; she opened the box and all the illnesses and hardships that gods had hidden in the box started coming out. Pandora was scared, because she saw all the evil spirits coming out and tried to close the box as fast as possible, closing Hope inside.

According to Hesiod Hope indeed stayed inside because that was Zeus’ will; he wanted to let people suffer in order to understand that they should not disobey their gods. Pandora was the right person to do it, because she was curious enough, but not malicious.

The myth of Pandora’s box has been fascinating people since ever, catching the imagination of countless artists, who created frescos, mosaics and sculptures depicting Pandora and the mythological elements. The myth itself though appears in many different versions; the most distinctive difference is that in some myths Hope does come out. The main purpose of the myth of Pandora though is to address the question of why evil exists in the world.

The birth of Pandora was represented on the pedestal of the statue of Athena situated at the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.

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75 comments.

Always love how Christians label anything outside of their own belief as a “myth” but their own religion is “absolute truth.” I doubt the people of Greece during that time considered their worship, of the different Gods, as a myth.

Even the first commandment of the Christian bible states, ” Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.” Notice it did not say there are no other Gods.

Verses from the Bible that refut the statement that there are other gods: 1 Kings 8:60 — That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 1 Timothy 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Hosea 13:4 — Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me; for there is no savior beside me. 1 Chronicles 17:20 — O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Actually, Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all called “Monotheistic” for a reason. They believe in one God. Well let’s start that commandments come from the Old Testament – Bible to Jews and Christians. Most of the Commandments make sense and are found in other religions or belief systems – Do not Murder. Do not Steal. Don not lie. etc. I believe that most modern Christians and Jews are NOT biblical absolutists. That is, we realize that some of the harsh laws from two thousands of years ago, have no real basis in science or rational discourse today – and some of the stories are meant to be allegories – lessons not always to be taken literally. But yes, one of the Commandments is – Do not worship false idols. But if you are a monotheist and are a Jew, Christian or Muslim – One God is your belief system. And the notion that making gods of “people” is bad is the morally right position – and today that could mean celebrities or Politicians – I think that’s a good idea to prefer to worship God – whatever you may envision that to be – and not a flawed human. When you replace our God with say, humans like a Mao or Hitler or Stalin – we’ve seen some pretty nasty, deadly outcomes – millions of dead in their wake.

That’s how religion works, it’s their own personal belief. It’s the same way someone could view someone else’s opinion as the wrong choice or wrong method of doing something, such as pouring cereal before milk or milk before cereal. Either way, that’s how religion works in general. Not just Christianity.

Hi my name is Suriya Reddy and Im from South Afirca ,Durban,Chatsworth.I am going to do a project on how to make Pandora’s box.

So if Pandora was the first woman on Earth how come she was created as a punishment for the mankind? Which mankind?

She was created for the men to lust over which would also be seen as a distraction

I realize that you wrote this a loong time ago, I think you are trying to blend a bible story (Adam and Eve) with Greek mythology. Just like Eve was the first woman in the bible, Pandora was the first woman in Greek mythology. In the bible Adam was the first man and God (singular) created Eve as a companion. Greek mythos the Gods (plural) created Pandora for Men (plural). Hope that helps you and any others that may read this.

Nope, similarities are not the author’s fault. He simply explained the myth as it was written.

This article was written quite poorly. In the Works and Days, there were expressly multiple generations previous.

Pandora wasn’t ever described as the first woman nor even as a mother by Hesiod. She was merely a weapon the gods sent to punish the degeneration of man. (The list of traits that they gave her included beauty from Aphrodite)

I mean, you have a point. Like guys and gurls, think bout it for a sec…

HI MY NAME IS NIRANYA CHAMODA RATHNAYAKE AND I AM FROM SRI LANKA AND AT SCHOOL I AM STUDYING ABOUT GREEK MYTHS + GREEK CIVILIZATION AND THIS ARTICLE IS WELL THE BEST

I have often asked people , who opened Pandora’s box ? It surprised me of the large number of people who did not know or had never heard of the myth .

This was a very informational article and it was interesting to read about. I’m doing an essay about Greek Mythology, and I had chosen Pandora’s Box considering the fact that it was the only Greek myth I knew about. I read more into Greek Myths and found some other stories I was interested in. But, ya can’t go back when you have a teacher as strict as mine UwU. This explained the myth of Pandora’s Box and informed me more of what I needed, which will definitely come in handy when writing this essay. Have a nice life rando ppl I don’t know!

I have always read “Hope” remaining differently. The Box is full of EVILS of all kinds. Empty Hope can be an evil. You can “Hope” all you want, but you can’t sit there waiting without doing something about it.

I loved this article and the way it was written. I didn’t know anything about Pandora’s box before. reading this article. Also, reading some of the comments was really helpful in better understanding the specific of this myth, especially the one which specified the difference between this myth as stated in the Bible vs Greek Mythology.

I am 65+…..My generation learned of thIs myth in grade school days and from our parents, songs, churches and TV.

A great myth still today….yet the youth of today mainly know nothing about this….teachings and times have changed so much since I was young. i still have faith in our youth today, however many are disillusioned from schools because of what they are teaching them. It is a lack of Caring from some teachers & a lack of Respect from some of the students, I believe that is greatly hindering solid educations. Some kids graduate from HS & still cannot read & write properly….that is atrocious…..and their Math skill levels are so very low. This is ultra dangerous to the future for them and America. The “FOUR PILLARS” of my youth teachings were ….AND in this exact order—- 1) God……..2) Country……..3) Home …….4) School. These should be stressed, now more than ever from Youth to the Elderly. None of us all should never quit learning.

I’m 67 & found at 21 after enlisting this was a continuous stressed concept daily pressed upon the soldier to adapt and adopt these pillars in our society from teaching/training living under & in a militaristic life, role attitude during WAR time (Vietnam)

The author, Lady victory, wrote a few books available at Barnes and Noble . Her 2nd is called ” Genesis. All in a days work.” She parallels the Pandora myth with Eve as a deliberate subterfuge within the bible. A marvellous advanced revised systematic theological study if you want the truth. ” You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

Pandora Box has a negative connotation. Yes, I do believed it’s important to know the history and origin. I love my most of my teachers(Mrs. Balloon-1st grade, Mr. Freeman-3rd, Mrs. Benson-5-6th grade?, Mrs. Frinklestein 7th History, Mr. Pollack-7th algebra, Mr. Wagner-10th English, Mr. Gonzalez-chemistry I and my typing teacher and my government class teach). I am grateful for my beloved teacher for their service and caring. Thank you to ALL teachers even if I can’t recall their names!!! Ok, Pandora Box is the most negative phrase to describe one’s inconceivable outcome.

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The Myth of Pandora’s Box

What was pandora’s box.

A classic tale that teaches a moral lesson about curiosity, the myth of Pandora’s box is still a favored topic until today.

Who were the characters involved in the myth of Pandora’s Box?

Zeus is the king of gods and a centerpiece in this myth. Clouded by anger due to Prometheus’s disobedience and wanting to teach humanity a lesson about curiosity, he ordered Hephaestus to create Pandora.

Prometheus is the titan god who is blessed with the power of prophecy and has the means to look into the future. After foreseeing the future and knowing that Zeus won the fight, Prometheus and his brother surrendered to Zeus.

Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, was tasked with creating animals under the orders of Zeus. He is Pandora’s husband and through other versions of the myth, he is the one who opened Pandora’s box.

Aphrodite, the goddess of wisdom and beauty, gave Pandora the blessing of grace. Due to her attraction towards Ares, she cheated on Hephaestus and was divorced.

Apollo, the son of Zeus and Titaness Leto, gave the blessing of music to Pandora. Together with Artemis , they are one of the most famous twins in Greek Mythology.

Hermes is the messenger of gods that is shrewd and cunning. His gift is unique as it was the only one that bore a negative trait. He was responsible for giving Pandora a scheming and deceitful personality.

Athena, the goddess of justice and war, taught Pandora everything she needed to know about making clothes and ornaments.

Hephaestus, the son of Mera, was born without a father. Despite being blessed as the god of smithing, Mera was not pleased with his looks and disability and decided to throw him out of Mount Olympus .

Hephaestus was responsible for giving form to Pandora. Despite being hated by his mother, Zeus knew of his capabilities and ordered him to make a woman out of clay.

Pandora is the heroine of this tale. A mortal woman molded from clay by Hephaestus and favored by the gods and goddesses of Olympus. She was created with the sole purpose of revenge toward humanity.

Prometheus and the Blessing of Fire

After being tried by Zeus and deemed innocent for not participating in the war, the titan brothers were tasked with creating man and animals. The titan gods took their time with their tasks. Epimetheus had already blessed the animals with the powers they were supposed to give to their creations. And Prometheus was bothered by the fact that he had nothing to give to humanity. Out of desperation and disagreement with Zeus’s rules, Prometheus attempted and succeeded in stealing fire from Mount Olympus and bestowed it on his creations. Zeus went into a raging fit after finding out that Prometheus stole the blessing of fire and decided to punish him. Prometheus was bound to a huge boulder with chains on a mountain where nobody was likely to pass through. Zeus tortured him through an eagle familiar that fed from the titan god’s liver with each passing day. Not long after this unfortunate event, Heracles found and saved him by slaying Zeus’s familiar.

Pandora’s Purpose: Revenge on Humanity

Zeus decided that humans should also get punished for receiving the blessing of fire and found an indirect way to exact his revenge. He ordered Hephaestus, the god of smithing, to mold the perfect woman out of clay and spread word to the gods and goddesses of the realm about his plan. The moment Hephaestus finished molding Pandora on clay, gods and goddesses from all over the realm visited and gave their blessings to the maiden-to-be. Afterward, Pandora came to life. She became the first mortal woman to exist on Earth with the ironic intent of teaching them a lesson.

Pandora Meets Epimetheus

Zeus carries out his master plan by letting Pandora meet Epimetheus on Earth with the intent of marriage. Before the fated meeting, Prometheus survived Zeus’s torture. And he warned his brother to avoid and decline all forms of gifts sent to him by Zeus. Epimetheus made a mental note of his brother’s warning only to forget everything after seeing Pandora. The titan god fell in love and soon enough, their wedding was held.

The Pandora’s Box

In Hesiod’s tale, the myth of Pandora’s box in the early versions depicted Zeus handing over a jar called “ pithoi ”. These were containers used to store wine, water, or food for Pandora as a wedding gift.

In other versions of the myth, the jar becomes a small box that Pandora holds and still contains the world’s demise within it.

Instead of the usual contents, Zeus filled Pandora’s Box with all forms of evil and malicious intent that ensured chaos when set free. He warned Pandora about opening the box, making the woman more curious about its content.

Hope and Demise: The End of Pandora’s Box

“Don’t open the box.”

– Zeus to Pandora, who opened the box anyway.

Soon, the inevitable happened. Zeus was able to get his long-awaited revenge. Pandora’s curiosity peaked, and she decided to open the gift that led to freeing all sorts of negative energy throughout Earth. By the time she closed the box, only the element of hope was left inside. Epimetheus and Pandora had a daughter named Pyrrha, who was born after the events of Pandora’s box. She signified the sliver of hope that humans have when she stood against the wrath of Zeus, who wanted to wipe humanity from existence in another myth.

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121 thoughts on “The Myth of Pandora’s Box”

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