In Hesiod’s “Works and Days,” hope remained inside Pandora’s jar after its lid was closed. The Greek word is elpis, commonly translated as “hope.”
Hesiod says that various evils escaped from the vessel and spread among humanity, while Elpis stayed inside because Pandora replaced the lid before it could leave. The passage does not provide a long explanation of why hope was retained, which has led to centuries of debate.
Some readers interpret hope as a comfort left for humans after suffering entered the world. Others note that Hesiod’s wording can support a more complicated reading, because hope is contained rather than clearly released as a gift.
The object is called a pithos in the ancient text. A pithos was a large storage jar, often used for grain, wine, or oil. The “box” wording became conventional much later and is not Hesiod’s original description.