In Hesiod’s myth, Elpis represents hope and remains in Pandora’s jar. Hesiod’s Greek term elpis is commonly translated as “hope,” although its ancient meaning could include expectation more broadly.
The story appears in Hesiod’s Works and Days, where Pandora’s container releases troubles into the world. After they escape, Elpis remains inside. This detail has produced different interpretations: hope may be a comfort preserved for humanity, or it may be another force withheld from humans.
The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” is itself a later alteration. Hesiod described a large storage jar, called a pithos, not a small box. Renaissance writers helped popularize the box version through Latin translations and artistic tradition.
Elpis should not be confused with Nike, the goddess of victory, or Iris, the divine messenger. In classical mythology, Elpis is an abstract personification rather than one of the major Olympian gods.