In Greek mythology, the Greek name of Pandora’s personified hope is Elpis.
Elpis is the personification of hope in Greek mythology. In Hesiod’s account of Pandora’s jar, the destructive forces escape, but Elpis remains within the vessel. The name is related to the Greek concept of expectation or hope, and it is usually rendered simply as “Hope” in English translations.
Elpis is not merely a modern abstract idea added to the story. Greek mythology personifies many concepts as divine or semi-divine figures, including Nike for victory, Nemesis for retribution, and Eirene for peace. Elpis belongs to this broader mythological pattern of giving human experiences a personal identity.
Interpretations of the ending differ. Some readers see hope as a comfort preserved for humanity; others note that it is kept inside the jar rather than released. Hesiod does not settle the symbolism in a straightforward explanation, which is why the final detail remains one of the myth’s most discussed features.