The myth of Pandora is described in Theogony, an epic poem by Hesiod (a Greek poet from the 8th century BC). The history of Pandora dates back to human civilisation's early days, and possibly to the Titanomachy. However, it was not until the 16th century that the first mention of Pandora's Box was made, by Erasmus of Rotterdam. Hesiod believed that a woman was a harbinger against evil.
Origins
The Origins of Pandora is a Greek mythology story that began with a girl named Pandora opening a box filled full of evil spirits and releasing them into the world. Due to the evil spirits that were released, she was afraid and refused to open the box quickly enough. Luckily, Zeus had put hope in Pandora. This hope would continue to live in humanity forever, and it would provide help for those who felt lost.
Over the centuries, a variety of interpretations of Pandora's story have been developed. The story was never confined to a single interpretation in the classical period. It became popular to illustrate religious and artistic trends. The story eventually was worn on coins. It also helped to develop gender stereotypes and attitudes that continue to influence the world today.
Characteristics
Pandora, the Zeus pawn's female pawn was responsible for the release of all evil into the universe. Although she was aware that she was only a pawn of the great game between gods, she decided she wanted to be free from the confines of her box. As a result, she unleashed all sorts of evil into the world, including sickness, death, strife, hatred, famine, and passion.
According to Greek mythology Pandora's creation was done by the gods Mount Olympus in order to show their superiority to Prometheus and create the first human beings. Pandora was also born without parents. But she bore the first woman, Pyrrha. She would marry Deucalion to bring forth the first human children.
Creation
The Creation of Pandora is a story of goodness and evil in Greek mythology. It is said that Zeus locked all the evil inside a box, which Pandora then opened. Evil, such as war, death, famine, hatred and strife, emerged from the box. In the story, Pandora was a pawn in the great game between the gods.
The Greek mythology of Pandora shares many similarities with the Biblical account of Eve. Pandora, her name, means "all gift," and it has a mystical connotation, similar to Eve in Scripture. Hesiod, a Greek poet wrote several works on Pandora's creation. Hesiod claimed that Pandora was created to deceive mankind in his "Theogony", and also "Works and Days".
Relationship with Eve
Although the stories are quite different, they share some commonalities. Both stories are about Eve, a woman who is the first woman to walk on the earth. In both stories, Eve falls prey to temptations and causes great suffering for the world. Both women are created in God's image and possess different qualities. They are different in that Eve is created from Adam's rib in the Bible, and Pandora is created by Zeus in the Greek.
While the Bible's Eve and Greek mythology Pandora are very different, the two stories share similar characteristics. Both were gifted to humans by the gods. Both women brought ruin to a paradisiacal realm.
Human impact
Pandora's legend has never been completely rewritten into one accepted interpretation. It was adapted by different cultures to represent various ideologies and artistic trends. Over time, it was worn as coinage and mixed with other stories. The main theme of this story is still the fall of man.
The poem "Theogony", 8th Century BC, first mentioned the story about Pandora. The Greek God Zeus punishes humans for taking Prometheus' gift of fire, so he commands Hephaestus to make the first woman. She is described as a "beautiful evil" who would torment the human race and its descendants.