In Hesiod’s Theogony, what does the name Pandora mean in Greek?

In Hesiod’s Theogony, the name Pandora means “all-gifted.” The Greek name Πανδώρα combines pan, meaning “all,” with dōra, meaning “gifts” or “presents.” It reflects the myth’s description of Pandora as a woman fashioned and equipped by several gods.

Hesiod presents Pandora as a divinely created figure whose attributes come from different Olympians. Hephaestus makes her, while other gods give her abilities, ornaments, or persuasive qualities. The name therefore emphasizes the many gifts bestowed on her rather than describing the container later associated with her story.

The English expression “Pandora’s box” comes from a later tradition. Hesiod’s surviving accounts describe a jar, not a box, and the name Pandora is not a reference to the jar itself. The myth appears most fully in Hesiod’s Works and Days and also in a shorter passage of the Theogony.