In Greek mythology, Zeus gave Pandora the sealed container.
Zeus, ruler of the Olympian gods, arranged Pandora’s creation as part of his punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire and gave it to mortals. Pandora was presented with gifts from the gods and sent to Epimetheus.
The container held destructive forces that had previously been kept away from human life. When Pandora opened it, these forces escaped and spread through the world. The story explains mythically why suffering exists among humans.
The tale is not a simple account of Pandora acting alone against Zeus. Zeus’s plan, Prometheus’s theft of fire, Epimetheus’s acceptance of Pandora, and the jar’s opening are connected parts of the larger myth.