In Greek mythology, hope remained inside Pandora’s jar after it was opened. Hesiod’s Works and Days says that all the other evils escaped into the world, while only Elpis stayed within the container when Pandora replaced the lid.
The Greek word elpis is often translated as “hope,” but its meaning can be broader than modern optimism. In ancient Greek thought, elpis could refer to expectation or anticipation, including expectation of either good or bad outcomes. That nuance has led scholars to debate whether the jar’s final occupant is intended as a comfort, a further ambiguity, or both.
The myth does not describe Pandora releasing hope into the world. Instead, the text places it inside the jar when the lid closes. This detail is frequently simplified in modern summaries, which may say that hope escaped along with the troubles.
The familiar expression “Pandora’s box” is also a later wording. Hesiod’s original vessel was a pithos, a large storage jar; the box image became standard through later translation and retelling.