What Is Pandora's Box?

Traditional myths and fables were used to explain the world, shine a light on mankind, teach lessons, reinforce the dogma of their gods and warn against blasphemous behaviors. Part of the creation story uses Pandora's Box to explain why the gods allow bad things to happen to people. Perpetuated by the Roman empire and its adoption of Greek deities, the story of Pandora's Box survives today as a colloquialism.

Origin

Pandora's Box originated as a box or a jar given to Pandora that contained all of the world's evils.

History

Pandora disobediently opened the box, unleashing sorrows, pestilence and death unto the earth and humanity.

Fun Fact

Pandora, the first woman, was a given to Epimethius by his brother Zeus although mythical versions alternate between woman's existence being a punishment or a gift.

Significance

Hope is the only element that remained in Pandora's box. Versions vary whether Hope was let free to balance the evils that visit man or remained contained so that mankind always has Hope in the face of trouble.

Function

Pandora's box is now used to mean a catalyst for a large amount of problems, similar to opening the proverbial can of worms.