In Greek mythology, Pandora’s container released evils into the world.
Hesiod describes the vessel as containing destructive troubles or evils that had previously been kept away from humanity. When Pandora opened it, these afflictions escaped and spread among people. The myth therefore functions as an origin story for suffering, illness, labor, and other hardships associated with mortal life.
Popular retellings often say that “all the evils” escaped, but translations vary in how they describe the contents. Some versions emphasize miseries, diseases, or troubles rather than treating them as a single named substance. The story is also commonly simplified into a lesson about curiosity, although Hesiod’s original account focuses strongly on divine punishment and the difficult human condition.