---
title: Pandora
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Pandora/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2022-11-13
---
# Pandora
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Pandora is a figure from [Greek mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/) who was not only the first woman, but —as an instrument of the wrath of [Zeus](https://www.worldhistory.org/zeus/)— was held responsible for releasing the ills of humanity into the world. Pandora was also an unrelated earth goddess in the early [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) [pantheon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pantheon/).
### Pandora - an Instrument of Punishment
The name Pandora means "gifts" and "all". According to (and perhaps even invented by) [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) in his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* and *Works & Days*, Zeus had [Hephaistos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hephaistos/) make Pandora, the first woman, from earth and water. Zeus' intention was to use the beautiful and lovely Pandora as a means to punish [Prometheus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Prometheus/) who had stolen fire from the gods and given it to mankind, who would in turn be punished. Zeus promises:
> Son of Iapetus \[Prometheus\], you who know counsels beyond all others, you are pleased that you have stolen fire and beguiled my mind – a great grief for you yourself, and for men to come. To them I shall give in exchange for fire an evil in which they may all take pleasure in their spirit, embracing their own evil. (*Works & Days*, 54-59)
### Pandora's Divine Gifts
Before her departure, Pandora was given a range of divine gifts by each of the Olympian gods. [Athena](https://www.worldhistory.org/athena/) taught her all the fine [crafts](https://www.worldhistory.org/crafts/) and dressed her in silvery robes, [Aphrodite](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aphrodite/) gave her grace and the means to create burning desire, and [Hermes](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hermes/) gave her "a dog's mind and a thievish character" and in her breast "set lies and guileful words" (*Works & Days*, 67-68, 77-78). If that was not enough, she was adorned with fine jewellery by the [Graces](https://www.worldhistory.org/Graces/), crowned with a magnificent golden headband made by Hephaistos, and given garlands of spring flowers by the [Seasons](https://www.worldhistory.org/Horae/). Finally, Pandora was given a large storage jar to take down to earth which she was told she must never open under any circumstances.
### Pandora's Box: The Evils of the World
Pandora, guided by Hermes, was sent to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. Foolishly forgetting his brother's advice never to accept a gift from the gods, the beautiful Pandora was made welcome in Epimetheus' home and the two married, having a daughter, Pyrrha. One day, and fulfilling her destiny, curiosity got the better of Pandora and she lifted the lid of the storage jar which released all the evils of the world. These terrible things included disease, [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/), vice, toil, and the necessity to work for sustenance.
Pandora, realising her mistake, quickly replaced the lid but it was too late and only one thing remained inside, caught in the edge of the jar's lip —Hope— so that humanity might somehow bear its sudden and eternal misfortune.
"Hope" is the traditional translation from the Greek but actually may be better represented by "anticipation" which includes an expectation of both good and bad events. Through this punishment Zeus thus compensated for the theft of fire and restored the eternal division between gods and humans.
[  Pandora Receiving Gifts from the Gods The British Museum (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4011/pandora-receiving-gifts-from-the-gods/ "Pandora Receiving Gifts from the Gods")### Pandora in Art
A relief frieze showing the birth of Pandora appeared on the statue base of the gigantic Athena Parthenos by Pheidias which stood inside the [Parthenon](https://www.worldhistory.org/parthenon/). According to Pliny the scene included 20 gods looking on. Pandora appears too on a few Attic vases in scenes probably inspired by the now lost [satyr](https://www.worldhistory.org/satyr/) play *Pandora* by [Sophocles](https://www.worldhistory.org/sophocles/).
In one 5th century BCE red-figure krater, now in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford, Pandora emerges from the ground, symbolizing her origin from clay. In such scenes either Epimetheus or satyrs hold mallets but the significance of these has, unfortunately, been lost and they once more illustrate the richness of Greek [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) beyond the surviving literary sources.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Boys-Stones et al. *The Oxford Handbook of Hellenic Studies.* Oxford University Press, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199286140/)
- Carabatea, M. *Greek Mythology.* Peania, 2007
- [Carpenter, T.H. *Art and Myth in Ancient Greece.* Thames & Hudson, 1991.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500202362/)
- [Hesiod. *Hesiod.* Harvard University Press, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0674996224/)
- [Hope Moncrieff, A.R. *The Illustrated Guide to Classical Mythology.* Studio Editions, 1995.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B005RN3PNO/)
- [Hornblower, S. *The Oxford Classical Dictionary.* Oxford University Press, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0199545561/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 700 BCE**: [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) poet [Hesiod](https://www.worldhistory.org/hesiod/) writes his *[Theogony](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theogony/)* and *[Works and Days](https://www.worldhistory.org/Works_and_Days/)*.
## External Links
- [The myth of Pandora's box - Iseult Gillespie](https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-myth-of-pandora-s-box-iseult-gillespie)
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2015, July 27). Pandora. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Pandora." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 27, 2015. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Pandora." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Jul 2015, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 27 July 2015. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.