In Greek mythology, the final thing left with Pandora after the troubles escaped is Elpis, the personification of hope. Hesiod’s Works and Days says that hope remained inside the container when Pandora closed it.
Elpis is not simply the modern abstract word “hope”; she is also treated as a mythological personification. In Greek thought, personifications could represent forces or conditions in human life as divine or semi-divine figures. Her presence in the container has prompted centuries of debate about whether hope is a comfort, another burden, or a resource reserved for humanity.
The surviving ancient wording does not fully explain why Elpis remains inside. Interpretations differ, and later retellings often say Pandora released every evil but accidentally kept hope trapped. That familiar explanation is an interpretation rather than a complete statement of Hesiod’s intent.