Which phrase describes Pandora in Hesiod’s Greek myth as a beautiful source of trouble?

Hesiod describes Pandora as a “beautiful evil,” presenting her as an attractive source of suffering for humanity.

In Works and Days, Pandora is created at Zeus’s command after Prometheus steals fire for humans. The gods contribute different qualities to her appearance and abilities, making her seem desirable and wondrous. Hesiod then frames her arrival as part of Zeus’s punishment for Prometheus and humankind.

The phrase captures an important feature of the ancient story: Pandora is not simply portrayed as foolish or malicious. Her beauty and gifts are part of the divine plan, and the danger lies in the consequences attached to her arrival.

Modern retellings often treat Pandora as a curious woman who accidentally releases evils. Hesiod’s account is more pointedly about divine retribution, gendered social anxieties, and the painful conditions of human life.