In Greek mythology, evils escaped from Pandora’s vessel after it was opened. Hesiod describes the container as holding harmful conditions that had previously been kept away from human life.
The myth uses the release of these evils to explain why people experience suffering and difficulty. Later summaries commonly list illnesses, toil, and other misfortunes, although the original poem does not present the contents as a modern numbered catalogue.
The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” often emphasizes curiosity and irreversible consequences. In the ancient story, however, the central contrast is between the sudden spread of evils and the one beneficial thing that remains inside. This contrast helped the myth become a lasting metaphor for consequences unleashed by an action.