In the Pandora myth, Pandora released evils when she opened the sealed container.
Hesiod describes the container as holding destructive forces that had previously been absent from human life. Once it was opened, these evils flew out and spread among people. Elpis, or Hope, remained inside after the other contents escaped.
The story is often summarized as an explanation for why suffering exists in the world. It is also a cautionary tale about deceptive gifts, curiosity, and the consequences of accepting something without understanding it. The English expression “Pandora’s box” comes from later tradition rather than Hesiod’s original wording.
A flood is a different Greek mythic punishment associated with Deucalion and Pyrrha. Gold and the gods are not what Pandora releases. In modern usage, the phrase can describe a source of unforeseen problems, but the ancient story specifically concerns evils entering human existence.