Works and Days gives the fullest ancient account of Pandora opening the container of evils. The poem is attributed to Hesiod and combines mythology with practical advice about farming, justice, work, and proper conduct.
Its Pandora episode explains why human life includes disease, toil, and other hardships. Zeus orders the creation of Pandora after Prometheus steals fire for humans. The gods contribute different qualities, and Pandora eventually opens the container, releasing the evils while leaving hope inside.
Hesiod also mentions Pandora in the Theogony, but that earlier or parallel account is much briefer and does not provide the complete jar episode. The two poems are therefore often discussed together, while Works and Days is the specific source for the best-known narrative sequence.