Pandora was the woman who opened the container later known as Pandora’s Box in Greek mythology.
The story appears most fully in Hesiod’s works, especially Works and Days. The gods create Pandora and send her to Epimetheus, whose name means “afterthought.” Although Prometheus had warned him not to accept gifts from Zeus, Epimetheus welcomes Pandora.
Pandora opens a sealed container, releasing troubles into the world. Hope remains inside, depending on the interpretation and translation of the Greek story. The familiar phrase “Pandora’s Box” is a later misunderstanding of the original Greek word, which referred to a large storage jar rather than a small box.
Pandora is often described as the first woman in Greek mythology, but her story differs from the biblical account of Eve. The myth explains why suffering exists while also preserving hope as a counterpoint to human misfortune.