what is the story of pandora in greek mythology

What does Pandora mean in Greek mythology?

Pandora, (Greek: “All-Gifts”) in Greek mythology, the first woman. According to Hesiod's Theogony, after Prometheus, a fire god and divine trickster, had stolen fire from heaven and bestowed it upon mortals, Zeus, the king of the gods, determined to counteract this blessing.

What are facts about Pandora?

Pandora facts often seem to be variable but we have gathered some of the most fascinating and widely accepted ones! Pandora is the first mortal woman on Earth according to Hesiod's story. It was she who unleashed evil things on Earth as a part of Zeus's plan of exacting revenge on the Titan brothers named Prometheus and Epimetheus.

What is the story behind Pandora?

Pandora’s Box: Amazing History, Creation and Myth

• History Behind Pandora’s Box. The story takes place during a conflict between the Olympian gods and the Titans. ...
• Creation of Pandora’s Box. The birth of Pandora is an interesting story. ...
• The Myth of The Pandora’s Box. Now we come to the birth of Pandora’s box story. ...
• Different Perspectives. ...

Who are the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology?

• Hestia - goddess of hearth and home
• Hades - god of the underworld
• Cronus - god of time and the ages
• Ouranos - god of the skies

Was Pandora good or evil?

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the woman who brought evil into the world and caused humankind's downfall. She was sent to earth by Zeus, king of the gods, who wanted to take revenge on the Titan Prometheus*. Prometheus had created men and had stolen fire from the gods and given it to the men.

What does Pandora represent in Greek mythology?

The gods gave her many traits including beauty, curiosity, charm, and cleverness. Hence her name “Pandora,” meaning “all gifted” or, alternately, “a gift to all.”

Why was Pandora a punishment?

According to Hesiod, Pandora was a curse on mankind as retribution after the Titan Prometheus stole fire and gave it to humans. Zeus had Hermes hammer the first human woman—Pandora—out of the earth.

Who is Pandora and why is she important?

Pandora is a figure from Greek mythology who was not only the first woman, but —as an instrument of the wrath of Zeus— was held responsible for releasing the ills of humanity into the world. Pandora was also an unrelated earth goddess in the early Greek pantheon.

What does the story of Pandora's box teach us?

Pandora's Box is a story about how evil came to exist in the world; in this Greek myth, evil came out of a box. The box did contain one good thing, however -- Hope. As the Brief Retelling tells it, "So now, when there is trouble and sadness among us humans, we have Hope to make us feel that tomorrow will be better."

Why did Zeus take Pandora?

Pandora, the first woman, was created by Zeus to neutralize the blessing of fire, which had been stolen by Prometheus from Olympus.

Why did Pandora sacrifice herself?

After she was freed by Kratos, Pandora confided in him her story and how her fear was snuffed out by Hope. Pandora was also shown to be incredibly selfless to to the point of sacrificing her own life to the Flame of Olympus against Kratos's plea and was incensed when he called her a "child".

Why was Pandora cursed?

According to Hesiod, when Prometheus stole fire from heaven, Zeus, the king of the gods, took vengeance by presenting Pandora to Prometheus' brother Epimetheus. Pandora opened a jar left in her care containing sickness, death and many other unspecified evils which were then released into the world.

Who did Pandora fell in love with?

EpimetheusOpening the box However, one look at Pandora was all it took for Epimetheus to fall in crazy love with her and marry her without thought or consideration. He was truly enchanted with her.

What are three facts about Pandora?

Pandora is one of Saturn's 82 known moons (natural satellites). Pandora is named after the first woman created by Hephaestus in Greek mythology. Pandora is also designated as Saturn XVII. Pandora was discovered in October 1980 by S. A. Collins and D.

What is the message of Pandora?

(The idiom “to open a Pandora's box”, means to do or start something that will cause many unforeseen problems.) The key question is how to interpret the myth. Is the imprisonment of hope inside the jar a benefit for humanity, or a further bane? If hope is another evil, then we should be thankful that hope was withheld.

What are Pandora's powers?

Pandora's powers consist of immortality, magic and supernatural knowledge. She is skilled in martial arts and is also a weapons expert, having access to magical weaponry. She is omnilingual as well.

What is the goddess Pandora symbol?

Pithos-jarPANDORA SUMMARYParentsCrafted by the godsHusbandEpimetheusHomeThessalySymbolsPithos-jar

What does the myth of Pandora meant to teach humans?

Though she hastened to close the container, only one thing was left behind – usually translated as Hope, though it could also have the pessimistic meaning of "deceptive expectation". From this story has grown the idiom "to open a Pandora's box", meaning to do or start something that will cause many unforeseen problems.

Who was Pandora in Greek mythology?

PANDORA IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY. In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first mortal woman, a woman crafted by the gods, possibly with the intention of bringing misery to mankind.

Why was Pandora not crafted by the gods?

There was an alternative view that Pandora was not crafted by the gods to punish man but to show that the gods of Mount Olympus could do a better job than Prometheus had done; it was just the attributes that had been given to Pandora brought strife to mankind.

What did Pandora bring with her?

Pandora brought with her a storage jar (or chest or box), but Pandora had been warned never to open the jar.

What was inside Pandora's box?

Inside Pandora’s Box had been stored all the world’s evils, and although Pandora quickly closed the stopper, the likes of toil, suffering, disease, war and greed had already escaped. Indeed, the only thing left inside Pandora’s Box was Hope.

Who made Pandora?

Pandora Crafted by the Gods. To this end Zeus instructed Hephaestus to create a woman from clay, and then Zeus breathed life into the creation. Once crafted, Athena then clothed the woman, Aphrodite adorned it with grace and beauty, Hermes gave it the ability to speak, whilst the Charites and Horai gave it beautiful accompaniments.

Did Pandora have parents?

Pandora had no parents of her own, having been crafted by the gods, but with Epimetheus, Pandora would become the mother of the first mortal born woman, for Pandora gave birth to Pyrrha.#N#Pyrrha would later marry her cousin, Deucalion, the son of Prometheus. Pyrrha and Deucalion would be the ancestors of a new generation of mankind after the Deluge.

What is the meaning of the name Pandora?

Pandora - an Instrument of Punishment. The name Pandora means "gifts" and "all". According to (and perhaps even invented by) Hesiod in his Theogony and Works & Days, Zeus had Hephaistos make Pandora, the first woman, from earth and water. Zeus' intention was to use the beautiful and lovely Pandora as a means to punish Prometheus who had stolen fire ...

Where is Pandora from?

In one 5th century BCE red-figure krater, now in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford, Pandora emerges from the ground, symbolizing her origin from clay. In such scenes either Epimetheus or satyrs hold mallets but the significance of these has, unfortunately, been lost and they once more illustrate the richness of Greek mythology beyond the surviving literary sources.

What gifts did Pandora receive?

Before her departure, Pandora was given a range of divine gifts by each of the Olympian gods. Athena taught her all the fine crafts and dressed her in silvery robes, Aphrodite gave her grace and the means to create burning desire, and Hermes gave her "a dog's mind and a thievish character" and in her breast "set lies and guileful words" ( Works & Days, 67-68, 77-78). If that was not enough, she was adorned with fine jewellery by the Graces, crowned with a magnificent golden headband made by Hephaistos, and given garlands of spring flowers by the Seasons. Finally, Pandora was given a large storage jar to take down to earth which she was told she must never open under any circumstances.

What did curiosity do to Pandora?

Fulfilling her destiny, curiosity got the better of Pandora and she lifted the lid of the storage jar which released all the evils of the world.

What is the name of the statue that shows Pandora's birth?

A relief frieze showing the birth of Pandora appeared on the statue base of the gigantic Athena Parthenos by Pheidias which stood inside the Parthenon. According to Pliny the scene included 20 gods looking on. Pandora appears too on a few Attic vases in scenes probably inspired by the now lost satyr play Pandora by Sophocles.

Who is Pandora about to open her box?

Translated text available in: Spanish, Portuguese, French, German. Pandora About to Open Her Box. Lawrence Alma-Tadema (Public Domain) Pandora is a figure from Greek mythology who was not only the first woman, but —as an instrument of the wrath of Zeus — was held responsible for releasing the ills of humanity into the world.

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What is the Pandora myth?

The Pandora myth is a kind of theodicy, addressing the question of why there is evil in the world, according to which , Pandora opened a jar ( pithos) (commonly referred to as " Pandora's box ") releasing all the evils of humanity.

Why is Pandora called Pandora?

Finally, Hermes gives this woman a name: "Pandora [i.e. "All-Gift"], because all they who dwelt on Olympus gave each a gift, a plague to men who eat bread" (81–2). In this retelling of her story, Pandora's deceitful feminine nature becomes the least of humanity's worries.

Why is Pandora nude?

There is an additional reason why Pandora should appear nude, in that it was a theological commonplace going back to the early Church Fathers that the Classical myth of Pandora made her a type of Eve. Each is the first woman in the world; and each is a central character in a story of transition from an original state of plenty and ease to one of suffering and death, a transition which is brought about as a punishment for transgression of divine law.

When was the Masque of Pandora written?

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ’s The Masque of Pandora dates from 1876. It begins with her creation, her refusal by Prometheus and acceptance by Epimetheus. Then in the latter’s house an “oaken chest, Carven with figures and embossed with gold” attracts her curiosity.

When was Pandora created?

John D. Batten, The Creation of Pandora, 1913, tempera on fresco, 128 x 168cm, Reading University. Images of Pandora began to appear on Greek pottery as early as the 5th century BC, although identification of the scene represented is sometimes ambiguous.

Did the Hesiodic myth obliterate the memory of the all-giving goddess?

The Hesiodic myth did not, however, completely obliterate the memory of the all-giving goddess Pandora. A scholium to line 971 of Aristophanes ' The Birds mentions a cult "to Pandora, the earth, because she bestows all things necessary for life".

Who was the first woman to be created?

Pandora. For other uses, see Pandora (disambiguation). In Greek mythology, Pandora ( Greek: Πανδώρα, derived from πᾶν, pān, i.e. "all" and δῶρον, dōron, i.e. "gift", thus "the all-endowed", "all-gifted" or "all-giving") was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. As Hesiod related it, each god cooperated by giving ...

Why was Pandora created?

According to Greek writers, Pandora was the first human woman. She was created by the gods to punish mankind for taking the fire that Prometheus had stolen from them.

What did Pandora represent?

To the Athenians, Pandora represented the chaos and dangers of the human world. Athena, however, embodied the civilized laws and structure that allowed their culture to rise above these problems and flourish.

What did Epimetheus not know about Pandora?

What Epimetheus did not know was that Pandora did not only receive gifts from the gods for herself, she had also brought more with her.

What are the gifts of Pandora?

As the mother of mankind, possibility an earth goddess, Pandora’s gifts were those of fertility, nourishment, and mercy.

How did the people of Athens view the Pandora legend?

According to this view, the people of Athens viewed the Pandora legend through the lens of their own high-structured civic order. One represented ideals while the other represented the dangers posed by losing them.

Why did Pandora try to close the lid of her jar?

According to many sources, Pandora tried to close the lid as quickly as possible when she saw these evils fly out of her jar. She managed to preserve hope, the only good thing she had brought with her.

What were Pandora's traits?

Pandora was given wiles, cunning, and deception as her chief traits. Athena rejected these, however, and exemplified the more ideal pursuits of virtue, wisdom, and the promotion of truth and law.

Why is Pandora important to Greek mythology?

Wrapping Up. Pandora was an influential part of Greek mythology due to her effect on the earth and due to the ending of the Golden Age with Zeus’ evils. In Greek mythology, the first woman to ever existed was custom-made with all the traits that would characterize humanity from then onwards.

Who created Pandora?

The Creation of Pandora. Pandora’s story begins with the story of another famous Greek mythological figure – Prometheus. When Prometheus stole the gift of fire from Mount Olympus and shared it with humanity, he angered the gods with his defiance. Zeus then decided to give another gift to humanity, one that would punish and torment them, ...

Why is Pandora called Pandora?

In Ancient Greek, the name Pandora stands for all the gifts. This is because each of the Olympian gods gave Pandora certain gifts to complete her.

What did Pandora do to the world?

Before Pandora, people lived in the Golden Age of Greek mythology, an era in which there was no conflict, no sickness, no suffering and no war. The opening of the vase would set about the beginning of the world as we know it .

What is the influence of Pandora?

Pandora’s Influence. As the first woman to ever exist in Greek mythology, Pandora is the ancestor of all humankind. Her daughter Pyrrha would marry and repopulate the earth after a terrible flood. Pandora’s gifts represent many of the traits of humans, and without her, humanity would have a completely different character.

What are the gifts of Pandora?

Pandora’s Gifts from the Olympians. Pandora and Epimetheus. Pandora’s Box. Pandora’s Influence . Pandora and Eve. Wrapping Up. To the Christians, it was Eve, but to the Greeks, the first woman to ever exist was Pandora. According to the myths, the gods crafted Pandora to bring doom into the world. Here’s a closer look at her story.

Why is Pandora's box important?

From then onwards, Pandora’s box would become a notable item in mystical writings. Pandora’s box became a symbol of the curiosity of humanity and of the necessity to delve into the mysteries that surround humanity.

What does Pandora mean in the Bible?

PANDORA was the Greek Eve (the Greek equivalent to Eve in the bible), the bringer of all sorrows for humankind. Pandora means “all gifts” — the bad as well as the good. She was the first woman and was created by HEPHAISTOS (also known as Hephaestus ), the smith god, on Zeus ‘ orders to upset PROMETHEUS, the Greek god of fire and friend of men. ...

What Came Out of Pandora’s Box?

As each day passed, Pandora grew more and more curious as to what was inside the box. Until when she could wait no longer.

Why Is There Hope in Pandora’s Box?

This hope in Pandora’s box can be seen as a good thing, but it’s much more likely that it was intended as false hope. Despite all this suffering, the constant belief that one-day things will get better when in reality, he never intended them to.

What is the visual representation of Pandora?

Visual Representation of Pandora looking into the jar given to her by the gods. When she went to live among men, she was gifted a gift from the gods, a sealed jar that contained all the misfortunes of existence. But soon, Pandora’s great curiosity overcame a natural fear of what might be inside, and she broke the seal, releasing sorrow, ...

What did Zeus order Hephaestus to do?

Like how Prometheus created man from clay, Zeus would order Hephaestus to mould Pandora, the first woman .

What happened to Pandora as each day passed?

As each day passed, Pandora grew more and more curious as to what was inside the box. Until when she could wait no longer.

Why did Pandora open the box one last time?

Pandora, who felt a pang of immense guilt for what she had done, opened the box one last time in the hope that there was something good inside. There was one last thing inside, Hope. It was this hope they gave humanity the strength to endure their hardships and continue surviving.

What is the purpose of the myth of Pandora?

The main purpose of the myth of Pandora though is to address the question of why evil exists in the world. The birth of Pandora was represented on the pedestal of the statue of Athena situated at the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens.

Why was Pandora created?

Pandora was created as a punishment to the mankind; Zeus wanted to punish people because Prometheus stole the fire to give it to them. Her gifts were beautifully evil, according to Hesiod.

Why was Pandora scared of the box?

Pandora was scared, because she saw all the evil spirits coming out and tried to close the box as fast as possible, closing Hope inside.

What is the myth of Pandora's box?

The myth of Pandora’s box. The myth of Pandora’s box is considered one of the most descriptive myths of human behavior in Greek mythology. Ancient Greeks used this myth not only to instruct themselves about the weaknesses of humans, but also to explain several misfortunes of the human race.

What was Pandora's box called?

Pandora was given a box or a jar, called “pithos” in Greek. Gods told her that the box contained special gifts from them but she was not allowed to open the box ever. Then Hermes took her to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus, to be his wife.

Who taught Hermes to be deceitful?

Hephaestus created her from clay, shaping her perfectly, Aphrodite gave her femininity and Athena taught her crafts. Hermes was ordered by Zeus to teach her to be deceitful, stubborn and curious.

Why did Hesiod hope stay inside?

According to Hesiod Hope indeed stayed inside because that was Zeus’ will; he wanted to let people suffer in order to understand that they should not disobey their gods. Pandora was the right person to do it, because she was curious enough, but not malicious.

What is the myth of Pandora's Box?

The ancient Greek myth of Pandora’s Box was the ancient Greeks’ way of making sense of the world around them. The ancient Greeks, perhaps like many other civilizations before and after them, always pondered the meaning of life.

Who created Pandora?

Creation of Pandora in Hesiod’s epic poems. Ancient Greek poet Hesiod is credited with writing the epic poems Works and Days and Theogony. Most likely written in the 7 th century BC, the two poems contain the story of Pandora’s Box and how the holder, Pandora, unknowingly released into the world all manners of misery and evils.

What did Zeus give Pandora?

Zeus’ gift to Pandora. When it came to Zeus’ turn to give Pandora a gift, the king of the gods gave Pandora a jar (or box) so elegantly designed that it instantly caught the attention of Pandora. Unbeknownst to Pandora, Zeus had placed in the box all kinds of human toil, sufferings and evils. He also placed the spirit of hope in the box.

What are some examples of gifts that the gods have given Pandora?

According to Hesiod, once the woman, Pandora, was created, the gods bestowed numerous gifts upon her, including good looks, charm, wits, curiosity, and the ability to tell lies. For example, the Greek goddess Athena gifted Pandora an elegant dress and showed her how to make clothes. Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, ...

Why did the Greeks believe Pandora was the best way to navigate the world?

Ancient Greeks reasoned that in order to navigate through the ills of this world, humans ought to work. Pandora’s coming threw a wrench into a perfectly harmonious and prosperous system (i.e. humanity’s Golden Age). It was Zeus’ way of exacting punishment on mortal men for graciously receiving fire from Prometheus.

What does the name Anesidora mean?

Her Roman name was Anesidora, meaning “she who sends gifts”. This name was also used to describe several goddesses and mythological figures, including Demeter, the goddess of the grains and harvest, and Gaea (Gaia), the goddess of the earth.

What does Pandora's box mean?

The phrase “Pandora’s Box” is used whenever a simple situation or event quickly takes a turn for the worse, resulting in a series of ceaseless and uncontrollable complications . The origin of the phrase emerged from ancient Greek mythology about how the first woman created by the gods unleashed misery on the earth, ...

Overview

In Greek mythology, Pandora (Greek: Πανδώρα, derived from πᾶν, pān, i.e. "all" and δῶρον, dōron, i.e. "gift", thus "the all-endowed", "all-gifted" or "all-giving") was the first human woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. As Hesiod related it, each god cooperated by giving her unique gifts. Her other name—inscribed against her figure on a white-ground kylix in the British Museum —is Anesidora (Ancient Greek: Ἀνησιδώρα), "she who sends up gifts" (up implyi…

Hesiod

Pithos into "box"

Difficulties of interpretation

Artistic representations

Pandora's relationship to Eve

19th century drama

External links