Hesiod is traditionally credited with first telling the Pandora myth in ancient Greek literature.
The story appears in two surviving poems attributed to Hesiod: the Theogony and Works and Days. Hesiod lived in the late eighth or early seventh century BCE, making his account one of the earliest surviving literary treatments of Pandora.
The two poems emphasize different details. The Theogony briefly describes Pandora and the creation of women, while Works and Days gives the fuller story of the sealed container, Pandora’s opening of it, and the release of human troubles. The familiar English phrase “Pandora’s box” reflects later retellings rather than Hesiod’s original wording.
Hesiod is sometimes confused with Homer because both are foundational early Greek poets. However, the surviving Pandora narratives are associated with Hesiod, not Homer. His account also connects Pandora’s creation to Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire.