Pandora

  Pandora is a well-recognized name. We nearly immediately think of the woman who let loose all the world's evils. However, the majority of us need to an elaboration on who she is. Thus, it is shocking to learn that Pandora's original stories didn't even include a box. When Hesiod's Works and Days were translated into English in the 16th century, a vessel of some type was mentioned, but it wasn't specifically a box or a jar- more like a wine barrel. As I said, Hesiod, an author from the 18th century, is the original teller of Pandora's story. He gives two accounts. The first is in his poem Theogony. 

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  After the genealogy of the gods, Hesiod begins the story of the titan Prometheus. He is widely known for out-thinking Zeus and bringing fire to mortals. His punishment is getting his liver pecked out daily by an eagle while chained to a rock. That story might ring a few bells. This causes Zeus to feel the need to balance out the 'good' fire brought to humankind. This is where Pandora comes in. Zeus asks Hephaestus to mold Pandora from the earth in the likeness of a young woman. Athena then dresses her and puts on a show in front of the other gods. They called her the 'kalon kakon' -the beautiful evil. The gods all revel in the fact that this woman is going to bring men to their knees.