Pandora plays an intriguing role in Greek mythology. According to the most well known legend, she was the first woman, created by the ruler of the gods, Zeus. Zeus was assisted in his task by other Greek deities, including Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who used her powers to bestow upon Pandora grace and loveliness; Hermes, messenger of the gods, gave Pandora persuasion; and Apollo, god of music and the arts, favored the woman with musical skill. Because of the gifts of the gods, Pandora was very attractive - her name even means "all gifts".
However, Pandora had a flaw. She was curious. When she encountered a jar that belonged to Epimetheus, she could not resist learning about its mysterious contents, and so she therefore opened it. This jar contained all of the evils, which were then released into the world. The only thing that remained in the jar was hope.
She, as the first woman, created after man, is sometimes compared to Eve in Hebrew myth. Pandora was originally a title of the goddess Rhea (the name means all gifts) - but the story of Pandora and her jar (not box) was probably an anti-feminine invention of the poet Hesiod.

But even if Pandora had a jar and not a box, women as portrayed in ancient art are forever putting things tidily away in boxes of various kinds. There's even the myth of Danaë, where she and her son Perseus were themselves tidied away in a box and dumped at sea. François Lissarague has discussed the idea that the box is symbolic of women's' life in Athens - she was to a large extent herself seen as a container - for the sperm, for the child, who spent most of her life in a container (house) designed for the purpose of allowing no unauthorized person to open the box.
There is a second myth which is less known that says Zeus created Pandora, in good faith, to be a blessing to man. Zeus sent with her a box containing the marriage presents, which were given by every god. Pandora, being curious, opened the box and all the blessings flew out, save one, Hope.
It is said that the second myth seems more logical, for how could Hope be stored in the same container as all manner of evil and illness.
Unlike the today's associations with Pandora, we need to remember that this goddess's name means "all-giver" or "sender of gifts." And when the evils of the world threaten, let us not forget that Pandora's box still, and always, holds hope.

Pandora's box is my research paper topic and I'm hoping that somehow by asking you guys maybe that would be a large help for me to this project.

I'm wondering if Hesiod have a deeper meaning about this myth... and what is his purpose in writing this story? Actually I don't have enough resources saying that Hesiod really wrote it... Please do help me guys! I'm just new around here and I really find you cool w/ your interest form different topics.

I'm wonderign what exactly this has to do with cryptozoology... >_>

Indeed. Moved to a more suitable category.

Hold it, Burnside! the topic was a MYTH in the Cryptozoology, legends and MYTHS forum.

Yea that would be more appropriate imo (myth).
I have this in my collection, so I thought it was somewhat appropriate.
Pandora's Box

Thanks Chupacabra king..

Well... If no one really can give me other info about it ,maybe at least anyone of you guys can give some comments about the story or at least give me some sources on where to find the infos i need...

I'll never give up onto this project but by the way a really BIG BIG THANK YOU! to those who at least replied on the issue...................

The story of pandoras box has a lot of different versions/translations. I have heard of the versions you have mentioned, and I will also tell of another one.

Epimetheus, who was a titan was in charge of creating all things living such as animals, insects, and of course humans. He however wanted to give man a gift that no animal had in order to rule over them, and he then took the lightning bolt ( or fire, or strength) from Zues and bestowed it upon man. Zues was enraged and decided to create Pandora to poisen mankind. ( similiar to adam and eve ) All of the gods came together to create pandora and bring her to the world, but it was the God Hermes who gave her the box.

When Epimetheus saw pandora, he instantly fell in love with her, and they were wed. The box given was said to be her dowry, and it should never be opened, and Epimetheus agreed and told her to never open it. However, in time, she got curious and did open it, which let out all of the evils into the world. She was able to close the box just in time to keep hope in the box. Many years later she decided to once again open the box, which finally released hope, which symbolizes there is hope, even after all evil has been released.

More information on this can be found here Prometheus and Pandora

I love this myth. It is my favorite one. I just think that they could have made it longer.

Hey! tnx... for that info.

I'm back but unfortunately my "GOOD memory" just got into me again. I forgot my user name... the thing is I set a different name in my user and display names but anyway I really don't think I have to explain that to you (guys), right?

Anyway! keep on replying people... Just really need it I really do like this topic also like different and the others.

Still have the big question..... Is Hesiod the writer?

Please resources....resources....resources....resources.... I really need it! I'm desperate to have this topic. Please help me!

Thanks for the replies from all of you! I'll be always just around!


Edited to remove 40 repeats of the word "resources"

Yes, Hesiod is the writer of the Pandora story.

I wanna thank you for that but where did you learn that I mean I need resources.. Would you mind to give me any references or tell me the resources where you read it. Thanks Azalin! It's a big help for me!

Ei! before I forget guys again please give some comments and reactions about it!

jus_d same_meird!,

I can give you a few references. The website I gave you before gives you quite a bit of information. That website again is " http://www.physics.hku.hk/~tboyce/ss/topics/prometheus.html ".

Some books for reference are " The Poems of Hesiod " by R.M Frazer, and " Works and Days and Theogony " by Stanley Lombardo, also Robert Lamberton.

Hope this helps.

This Pandora's Box makes me wonder if there is a relation between Pandora's Box, Ark of Covenant and the Golden Box in the egyptian pyramidtexts and maybe other mysterious boxlike objects with the same sort of powers spoken of in ancient history.

You're my savior Azalin!

I just wish I could give you a big...big...HUG for that!

THANKS a lot!

What made you think that pandora's box, ark of covenant and the golden box are related to each other?

what do you know about the ark of covenant and golden box, VIRACOCHA?