In Greek mythology, Hope was the spirit that remained in Pandora’s container.
Hesiod’s account says that Pandora opened the container after receiving it from the gods, releasing troubles into the world. Hope, called Elpis in Greek, remained inside when the container was closed again. The ancient story therefore places Hope alongside the forces that afflict humanity, rather than describing it simply as another released evil.
The meaning of this detail has been debated since antiquity. Some readers see Hope as a comfort preserved for humans; others note that Hesiod’s wording and the position of Elpis inside the vessel make its role more ambiguous. The myth does not provide a modern psychological explanation of hope.
A common mistake is to say that “hope escaped.” In the fullest surviving version, it is specifically the thing left inside. The Greek name Elpis is also sometimes translated as expectation, anticipation, or hope, but “Hope” is the standard English answer.