In Hesiod’s Greek myth of Pandora’s jar, hope remained inside after she opened it.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora releasing destructive troubles into the world, then shutting the container before one final thing could escape. That remaining thing is usually translated into English as “hope,” from the Greek word elpis.
The story’s ending has prompted centuries of debate. Some readers interpret hope as a comfort preserved for humanity, while others note that Hesiod presents it as something still trapped inside the jar. The myth itself does not explicitly explain whether this is beneficial or troubling.
The familiar English title “Pandora’s box” is also a later wording. Hesiod used pithos, a large storage jar, and the “box” idea arose through a Latin translation tradition. Modern retellings often simplify the ending by saying Pandora released every evil except hope.