The Greek name for the hope that remained in Pandora’s vessel is Elpis. In Hesiod’s Works and Days, elpis is the term associated with the final presence left inside after the other evils escape.
Elpis is more than a casual reference to a feeling. In Greek thought, the word can refer to expectation or anticipation, and its meaning depends on context. That linguistic range helps explain why translators and scholars discuss whether Hesiod presents it as a blessing, a burden, or an ambiguous part of the human condition.
The familiar English phrase “hope in Pandora’s box” comes from later translations and retellings. Hesiod’s original account is shorter and does not give the extended moral commentary found in modern versions. The Greek term itself is therefore useful for distinguishing the ancient text from later interpretations.
Elpis is sometimes confused with Eris, the personification of strife, because both names appear in discussions of Greek myth. They are different figures and concepts. Eris is associated with discord, while elpis is the word for hope or expectation in this episode.