In Hesiod’s account, what did Pandora release from her jar?

In Hesiod’s account, Pandora released human troubles from her jar.

Works and Days describes the container as holding countless evils or harmful afflictions. Once Pandora opens it, these troubles spread among human beings. The account connects the release with diseases, hardship, and the difficulties that shape mortal life.

Hesiod does not present the episode as a modern horror scene with named monsters emerging one by one. Instead, the contents represent the conditions and sufferings that had previously been absent or hidden from humanity. The story is part of an explanation for why people must work and endure pain.

The jar is closed before hope, or elpis, escapes. Because the ancient text is concise, later artists and writers have expanded the contents into long lists of evils. Those additions are interpretations or adaptations rather than a complete catalog supplied by Hesiod.