The Greek Myth Of Pandora's Box

Pandora’s Box

The Greek myth of Pandora’s Box originally started somewhere around 700 B.C. stating that it was a pithos which mean jar, later on in the modern time it was changed to a pyais which means box. Two twin brothers name Prometheus and Epimetheus are the cause of Pandora’s box being created. The two brothers were given the task of populating the earth with animals and mankind. Prometheus which means forethought was crafty and was entrusted with the task of creating mankind and watching over them. Epimetheus which means afterthought was entrusted with creating and looking out for the animals. Prometheus loved mankind and saw that man was not happy. He saw that they needed fire to warm them and that they could learn how to cook their food. He knew that he had to ask Zeus the King of all Gods and Goddess to let him give mankind a spark
of fire so that they would be able to have a little comfort through the months of winter.
Prometheus ask Zeus to let him give man fire it made Zeus mad. He told him no man would learn how to become strong and wise like us. Fire is too dangerous for man. Prometheus wasn’t happy with Zeus answer. He knew that man had to have fire if they were to survive. One day Prometheus enter into Zeus domain and stole a spark of fire. He showed mankind how to use fire to keep warm and cook with it. He knew when Zeus found out that he had disobeyed him that he would be punished. Prometheus told his brother Epimetheus about what he had done. He told him that Zeus wrath be rentless. Prometheus warned Epimetheus not to accept any gift from Zeus and to be careful. Zeus looked down from Mt. Olympus one winter day and saw that man had fire. He knew Prometheus had disobeyed him. Zeus was furious with the two brothers. He had decided to punish mankind along with the two brothers. Prometheus was bounded on Mount Kaukasos to a stake where an eagle was set to feed upon his ever-regenerating liver. Zeus decided to ask Hephaestus the god of craftsman ship and Athena the virgin goddess to make a woman. This would be the
first woman on earth. Hephaestus was instructed to make her out of clay from the earth as punishment for mankind she would be beautiful canning and her name was to be Pandora. Pandora mean “ All Giving” . Zeus asked all the Gods and Goddess to give Pandora a special unique gift from each of them that would help her throughout her life. Some of her gifts were femininity craft, stubborn, curious and deceitful. Pandora was ready now to be given to the brothers. Prometheus refused the gift but Epimetheus saw how beautiful Pandora was and accepted her as his wife despite the warning that Prometheus had given him not to accept any gifts from Zeus. When Epimetheus and Pandora got married Zeus gave them s box and told Pandora and Epimetheus to never open it no matter what. Zeus knew that Pandora curiousty would get to her and she would open the box and mankind would finally get their punishment.
Epimetheus didn’t want to know what was in the box. He reminded her that Zeus told us to never look in the box. His wife was curious. Pandora waited until she was alone and decide to look in the box an see what was inside. To her surprise she had let out the wrath of Zeus. All type of evil and bad things came flying out the box. She quickly closed the box but it was to late. All the bad this were now released on mankind. When she told Epimetheus what she had done and what came out of the box. He couldn’t believe that she had opened the box despite him telling her about what Zeus had said to never open it. They decided to open the box again together to see if something happen or was left in the box. To their surprise Elpis was left at the bottom of the box and they released it. Elpis is called the spirit of Hope. Now mankind wouldn’t have a face all the evils of the world without hope. Hope would be able to guide them through the evils and disasters that they would face. This is how the story of Pandora’s box was created. From Greek times today time the danger of being curious still have the same effect on people. Opening of Pandora’s box is a synonymous to exploring the forbidden and paying the consequences. At least we know that we still have hope to guide us.