Pandora’s box, an artifact in Greek mythology, has left an indelible mark on modern language, connected with the myth of Pandora in Hesiod’s c. 700 B.C. poem Works and Days. Hesiod related that curiosity led her to open a container left in the care of her husband, thus releasing curses upon humanity. Later depictions of the story have varied, with some literary and artistic treatments focusing more on the contents than Pandora herself. In modern times, an idiom has grown from the story, meaning “Any source of great and unexpected troubles,” or alternatively, “A present which seems valuable but which in reality is a curse.” This influence of the myth is a testament to its enduring power.
The Myth of Pandora’s Box
