Pandora's Box
A proverbial expression for any action that creates irreversible and widespread problems, derived from the myth of the first woman who opened a jar releasing all evils into the world
The Meaning of Pandora's Box
The phrase originates from Hesiod's Works and Days. Zeus, angered that Prometheus had stolen fire for mankind, ordered the creation of Pandora, the first mortal woman, fashioned by Hephaestus and adorned by all the gods. She was given a pithos — a large storage jar, mistranslated as "box" by the Renaissance scholar Erasmus — and told never to open it. Pandora was sent to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, who accepted her despite his brother's warning to refuse all gifts from Zeus. Overcome by curiosity, Pandora lifted the lid. Out flew every form of suffering — disease, famine, toil, grief, and death — spreading across the earth. Only Hope remained inside, trapped beneath the rim when Pandora slammed the lid shut. The phrase "Pandora's box" now describes any action that unleashes unforeseen and uncontrollable consequences. It appears in political discourse, scientific ethics, technology criticism, and everyday conversation. The original Greek word was pithos, a jar, but the mistranslation to "box" has become so embedded that correcting it would itself be futile.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
The famous "box" was actually a large storage jar — the mistranslation by Erasmus in 1508 has persisted for over five hundred years
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Pandora's Box
💭 conceptThe jar that released all evils
Pandora's Box (properly a jar, pithos) was the container given to the first woman, Pandora, which when opened released all evils into the world — with only Hope remaining inside.
Pandora's Jar
💭 conceptevil, hope
The vessel (originally a large storage jar, not a box) given to Pandora that released all evils into the world but trapped Hope at the bottom.
Creation of Pandora
💭 conceptNarrative
The crafting of the first woman by the gods as a punishment for humanity after Prometheus's theft of fire
Creation of Man
💭 conceptNarrative
The mythological accounts of how humanity was fashioned from clay and endowed with life by the gods
Pandora
🗡 heroFirst woman, opener of the jar of evils
The first mortal woman, created by the gods as a beautiful punishment for mankind. When she opened her jar, all the evils of the world escaped — leaving only Hope inside.
Prometheus
💭 conceptThe gift of fire to mankind
The fire stolen from the gods by Prometheus and given to humanity, enabling civilization. Fire symbolized technology, knowledge, and the cost of progress.
Promethean
💭 conceptLanguage and ambition
An English adjective meaning daringly creative, rebellious, or boldly innovative, derived from the Titan Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity
Hippolytus and Phaedra
💭 conceptNarrative
A tragedy of forbidden desire, false accusation, and divine cruelty destroying an innocent young prince
Pharmakon
💭 conceptThe substance that is both cure and poison
The Greek word that means simultaneously medicine and poison — a concept that embodies the duality at the heart of all power.
Ate
💭 conceptPersonification of ruinous delusion
The goddess of blind folly and ruin who walks among mortals, leading them to make the decisions that destroy them.
Tantalize
💭 conceptTemptation, frustration, torment by proximity
To torment with something desired but just out of reach, from King Tantalus and his eternal punishment.
Cassandra Complex
💭 conceptPsychology and decision theory
A psychological phenomenon in which valid warnings or predictions are dismissed or disbelieved, named after the Trojan prophetess cursed to speak true prophecies that no one would accept