Pandora's Box

The First Woman

Long, long ago, before the world was quite the same as it is today, the gods of ancient Greece made the very first woman. Her name was Pandora, which means "the gift of all," because each of the gods gave her a special present.

One god gave her beauty. Another gave her a kind and gentle voice. Another taught her to weave cloth and play music. And the goddess of wisdom dressed her in fine clothes. Pandora was clever and lovely and full of life. But one of the gods also gave her a gift that would cause a great deal of trouble — he gave her a curious mind that always longed to know more.

A Mysterious Gift

When Pandora was ready, the gods sent her down to live on the earth. They gave her a husband, a kind man named Epimetheus, and the two of them made a happy home together.

But the gods also sent something else: a box. It was a beautiful box, carved from dark wood and bound with a heavy golden clasp. When they handed it over, the messenger god gave Pandora one strict instruction.

"This box is yours to keep," he said. "But you must never open it. Not even a peep inside. Do you understand?"

"I understand," said Pandora. "I will never open it."

And she meant it. She put the box on a high shelf and tried not to think about it.

A Box That Whispers

But it is very, very hard not to think about something you have been told not to touch.

Every day, Pandora's eyes drifted toward the box. I wonder what is inside, she thought. Why would the gods give me such a lovely box and tell me never to look in it? It must hold something wonderful. Perhaps jewels. Perhaps gold. Perhaps a gift even finer than all the rest.

The box seemed to whisper to her. Each morning, the whispering grew a little louder.

"Just one peek," it seemed to say. "One tiny peek would not hurt. Who would ever know?"

Pandora tried to stay busy. She wove cloth. She played music. She walked in the garden. But always, always, her thoughts came back to the box on the high shelf.

The Temptation Grows

Days turned into weeks, and the longing grew stronger. Pandora could hardly sleep. She would lie awake at night picturing what treasures might be hidden inside.

"It is only a box," she told herself one quiet afternoon, when Epimetheus was away. "Surely the gods would not mind if I took the smallest little look. I will close it again at once. No one will ever know."

She fetched a stool and reached up to the high shelf. She lifted the box down and set it on the table. Her heart was pounding. Her fingers trembled on the golden clasp.

I should not do this, said one part of her mind. But I simply must know, said the other.

Slowly, slowly, she lifted the lid.

The Troubles Escape

The moment the lid was open even a crack, there came a terrible rushing sound. Out of the box poured a swirling cloud of dark, buzzing shapes!

For inside the box, the gods had shut away all the troubles of the world. Out flew Sickness, with grey wings. Out flew Sadness and Worry, hissing and whispering. Out flew Anger, Greed, Jealousy, and every other kind of trouble that people had never known before. They stung Pandora as they passed and scattered far and wide across the whole world.

"Oh no!" Pandora cried. She slammed the lid shut as fast as she could, but it was too late. The troubles were already gone, flying off to every corner of the earth.

Pandora burst into tears. "What have I done? I let out all these terrible things, and now I can never put them back!"

One Last Thing

Pandora sat with her head in her hands, weeping. But then, from inside the box, she heard a tiny, gentle voice.

"Please," it said softly. "Let me out too."

Pandora was frightened. "No," she sniffed. "I have already let out enough trouble. I will not open you again."

"But I am not a trouble," said the little voice kindly. "I am here to help. Without me, the people of the world would never be able to bear the troubles you set free. My name is Hope."

Pandora wiped her eyes. Slowly, carefully, she lifted the lid one more time. Out fluttered a small, shining creature with soft, glowing wings. It was warm and gentle, like a tiny piece of sunshine. It circled the room once, brushed Pandora's cheek, and then flew out into the world after all the troubles.

Why We Always Have Hope

And so it has been ever since. There are troubles in the world — everyone meets sadness or sickness or worry sometimes. Pandora let them loose, and we cannot put them back in the box.

But wherever the troubles go, Hope goes too. When people are sad, Hope reminds them that happier days will come. When people are sick, Hope helps them believe they will feel well again. When things go wrong, Hope whispers, "Do not give up. Tomorrow may be better."

Pandora made a mistake, the way everyone does. But because Hope stayed with us, even the darkest days are never quite without light.

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The moral: Curiosity can lead us into trouble, but as long as we have hope, we can face whatever comes.

Want more myths and legends? Try King Midas and the Golden Touch or Icarus and the Wings of Wax next.