In Greek mythology, who opened Pandora’s jar?

In Greek mythology, Pandora opened the jar herself. Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Zeus’s punishment reaching humanity through Pandora, who removes the covering from the container and releases its contents.

The act is often simplified as deliberate mischief, but Hesiod’s account does not present a detailed psychological explanation of Pandora’s motive. Later retellings commonly call it curiosity, an interpretation that helped shape the modern phrase “to open Pandora’s box.” The ancient story instead concentrates on the consequences of the opening.

The jar belonged to the myth’s original version, while the word “box” became standard later through translation and artistic tradition. The Greek term pithos refers to a large storage jar, not a small hinged box.

Pandora’s action is also distinct from Prometheus’s theft of fire. Prometheus defies Zeus before Pandora appears, whereas Pandora’s opening is part of Zeus’s response. Epimetheus accepts Pandora, but the text attributes the opening to Pandora. This distinction prevents confusion among the myth’s several connected actions.