In the phrase “Pandora’s box,” what does the box traditionally represent when opened?

In the phrase “Pandora’s box,” the opened box traditionally represents a source of troubles.

The expression comes from the Greek myth in which Pandora opens a container and releases harmful forces into the human world. In modern English, calling something a “Pandora’s box” means that it may produce many unexpected problems once examined, started, or made public. The phrase is usually used metaphorically rather than as a reference to a literal container.

The expression is based on a later translation of Hesiod’s story. Hesiod’s Greek text describes a pithos, or large storage jar, not a small box. The box image became standard after Renaissance translation and retelling.

The phrase is also distinct from the exact moral meaning of the ancient poem, which includes the complicated detail that Hope remains inside. Modern usage generally focuses on consequences multiplying after an apparently simple action, such as opening an investigation or introducing a risky technology.