In Hesiod’s version of Pandora’s box, hope remained inside after the other troubles escaped.
In Works and Days, Hesiod describes Pandora opening a sealed container and releasing countless evils that had previously been kept away from humanity. The container is then closed before a final occupant can escape: elpis, usually translated as “hope.” This detail has made the ending one of the most debated passages in classical mythology.
Readers disagree about whether hope is presented as a blessing, another hardship, or a reserve that protects humans from despair. The Greek word does not always carry exactly the same emotional meaning as the modern English word. Hesiod’s poem also does not explicitly say that Pandora deliberately shut the container; the familiar version often adds that action.
The phrase “Pandora’s box” therefore compresses a complicated ancient passage into a short metaphor. It usually means that a seemingly small action has released many unforeseen problems, while the surviving hope is often interpreted as a reason humanity can endure them.