Pandora facts for kids

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the very first woman on Earth. The king of the gods, Zeus, asked the god Hephaestus to create her from earth. Other gods gave her special gifts, like beauty and charm. This is why her name, Pandora, means "all gifts" in Greek.

Zeus sent Pandora to live with a kind man named Epimetheus. As a wedding gift, Zeus gave them a mysterious jar. Today, this is often called Pandora's box. They were told very clearly not to open it.

However, Pandora was very curious. One day, she couldn't resist and opened the jar. All the bad things in the world had been trapped inside. They quickly escaped and spread across the entire Earth. Pandora realized what she had done. She quickly closed the jar. It was too late to keep evil from getting out. The only thing left inside the jar was hope. The word "jar" in the myth was sometimes mistranslated as "box." The phrase "Pandora's box" has become a common saying in the English language. It refers to something that will cause a lot of trouble.

The myth of Pandora is very old. There are several different Greek versions of the story. People have understood it in different ways over time. It helps to answer the question of why there is badness in the world.

Pandora: A Moon of Saturn

Pandora is also the name of one of the many moons that orbit the giant ringed planet Saturn. It is a small moon, shaped a bit like a potato. Scientists discovered Pandora in October 1980. They used pictures taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft. It was later officially named Pandora in 1985. It was named after the character from Greek mythology.

Images for kids

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  Pandora trying to close the box she has opened. At left, the evils of the world taunt her as they escape. Engraving, based on a painting by F.S. Church.

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  Pandora by John William Waterhouse

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  A pithos from Crete, around 675 BC (Louvre Museum)

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  Nicolas Régnier: Allegory of Vanity—Pandora, around 1626

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  Jane Morris in the role, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, coloured chalks, 1879

See also

In Spanish: Pandora para niños