In Greek mythology, what is Pandora’s name often translated as?

In Greek mythology, Pandora’s name is often translated as “All-gifted.” The name comes from the Greek elements pan, meaning “all,” and doron, meaning “gift.” It reflects the gifts or abilities that the gods bestow on her.

Hesiod gives Pandora the name Πανδώρα, usually rendered Pandora in English. His account presents her as a woman fashioned by the gods and sent to humanity as part of Zeus’s punishment after Prometheus gives humans fire.

The translation does not mean that Pandora herself gives every gift. Rather, the name is connected with the gods giving her various qualities. Modern retellings sometimes interpret it differently, and some ancient traditions may have understood the name in relation to the earth, but “All-gifted” is the standard popular translation.

Pandora’s name is separate from the later English expression “Pandora’s box,” which arose from a translation misunderstanding involving the Greek word pithos.