In Hesiod’s Works and Days, the Greek word for the hope left in Pandora’s jar is elpis. The term is commonly translated as “hope,” although its range can also include expectation or anticipation.
Hesiod says that countless evils escape from the vessel and spread among humans. Pandora then replaces the lid, leaving elpis inside. The poem does not provide a long explanation of why Hope remains, which has made the detail one of the story’s most debated features.
Some readers interpret the trapped Hope as a comfort preserved for humanity. Others have argued that it may be another troublesome thing kept from escaping. The Greek word itself does not settle that debate, because expectation can be positive or anxious depending on context.
“Pandora’s box” is also a later expression. Hesiod’s Greek text describes a pithos, a large storage jar, while the familiar box comes through later Latin and European tradition. The original wording is therefore important when discussing elpis.