Pandora's Box

In Greek mythology, a box containing all the world's evils, released when Pandora opened it out of curiosity.

Image by Sofia Wellman

Pandora's Box is a mythical artifact in Greek mythology, said to contain all the evils of the world. According to the myth, Pandora, the first woman on Earth, was given a box (or a jar) as a gift by the gods, but she was instructed not to open it. Overcome by curiosity, Pandora opened the box, releasing all the evils into the world, such as disease, poverty, and suffering, leaving only hope inside once she closed it again. The tale of Pandora's Box is often used as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience and the dangers of unchecked curiosity.