In Hesiod’s Pandora myth, Zeus gives Pandora the jar or storage vessel.
Zeus is the god who sends Pandora to Epimetheus as part of his punishment of humanity. In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Pandora receives a large storage container and eventually opens it, releasing the troubles that had been kept inside. The ancient Greek word is often translated as “jar,” not “box,” which explains the title commonly used in English.
The familiar phrase “Pandora’s box” became dominant through later translation and retelling. The container was a pithos, a large earthenware storage vessel used in the ancient Mediterranean. It could hold grain, oil, wine, or other goods, making it a natural household object in the story.
The myth does not consistently describe the vessel as a small gift box. Modern paintings and popular culture often depict a hinged box, but the older literary tradition points to a substantial jar. Zeus’s role is also distinct from Hephaestus’s role as Pandora’s maker.