by K. R. Richardson

Created on: August 29, 2011   Last Updated: January 27, 2012

In modern discourse, the phrase “Pandora’s box” is used to describe a source of unanticipated yet far-reaching troubles or evils. The myth this phrase originated from has undertaken many changes over the years and has been subject to numerous interpretations.

The myth was first scribed by the poet Hesiod sometime around 700 BC (first in Works and Days, then again, though somewhat differently, in

Theogony). The story begins with Epimetheus whose name means "hindsight" and his brother Prometheus, whose name, complementarily, means “foresight”. Epimetheus was tasked with gifting a positive trait to each new animal as it was created. At the conception of man, Epimetheus discovered he had run out of gifts. His brother, Prometheus, considered man to be superior to all the creatures who had gone before; the pinnacle of creation. Unable to leave man bereft of any special traits, Prometheus determined to obtain the most useful trick of the gods. So he stole fire from Zeus and this was his gift to mankind.

Enraged, Zeus went after both Prometheus and mankind, seeking retribution. Prometheus’ punishment was to be bound to a rock by indestructible chains where he received daily visits from an eagle who feasted on his liver. As Prometheus was immortal his liver grew back after each feeding, meaning he had to relive the torture every day. This continued until he was set free by Heracles (known in Roman mythology as Hercules) during his Twelve Labors.

The punishment reserved for man was far more cunning. Zeus tasked the gods with creating the perfect double-cross. This came in the form of a gift: the very first woman, Pandora. But the gift was booby-trapped. Molded from earth and water, Pandora was given exquisite form by Hephaestus; from Athena she received beautiful clothing and was taught to be dexterous and lithe; Aphrodite endowed her with beauty; from Apollo she received musicality and a talent for healing; Demeter taught her gardening skills; Poseidon bestowed on her a pearl necklace and ruled that she should never drown. Some crafty counterparts to these qualities came from Zeus who made her lazy, roguish, and irrational; and Hermes who made her sly and bold yet irresistibly charming. The final and most destructive trait of all was Hera’s contribution: curiosity. Then came the coup de grâce, Pandora’s dowry which we now refer to as “Pandora’s box”. In ancient Greek, the word, “pantes”,

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