Pandora's box facts for kids
Pandora's box is a famous story from ancient Greek mythology. It tells about a special container that, when opened, released many troubles into the world. The story also explains why Hope remained. This tale comes from a very old poem by Hesiod, written around 700 B.C. The original container was actually a large storage jar, not a box. But a mistake in translation changed it. Today, we use the phrase "opening Pandora's box" to describe starting something that causes many unexpected problems.
Contents
The Myth of Pandora's Jar
Zeus's Plan
In ancient Greek myths, Prometheus stole fire from the gods to give to humans. This made Zeus, the king of the gods, very angry. As a punishment, Zeus created the first woman, Pandora. He sent her to Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother.
The Jar is Opened
Pandora was given a special jar and told not to open it. But her curiosity was too strong. She opened the jar, and out flew many troubles. These included sickness, sadness, and other difficulties for humankind.
What Was Left Behind
Pandora quickly closed the jar. Only one thing remained inside: Hope. This part of the story teaches us that even when things are difficult, hope can still be found.
Why a "Box" and Not a "Jar"?
The original Greek word for the container was pithos (pronounced PEE-thos). This was a very large storage jar, often made of clay. People used pithoi to store things like wine, oil, or grain. So, Pandora actually opened a jar, not a box!
The mistake happened in the 16th century. A famous scholar named Erasmus was writing about the story in Latin. He changed the Greek word pithos to pyxis, which means "box." This change stuck, and that's why we now say "Pandora's box."
What "Opening Pandora's Box" Means Today
Today, when someone says "to open a Pandora's box," it means they are starting something that will cause many unexpected problems. It's like uncovering a lot of difficulties all at once. A similar saying is "to open a can of worms."
Different Versions of the Story
Over time, different versions of the myth appeared. Some ancient stories talked about jars containing both good and bad things for humans. In one version, a foolish man opened a jar of blessings, and only hope remained. But the most famous version is still the one where Pandora released troubles into the world. And Hope was the only thing left inside the jar.
While the most common story says Pandora opened the jar, some later versions of the myth blamed her husband, Epimetheus. His name means "Afterthought," suggesting he often made mistakes. These stories show that different writers sometimes changed parts of the old myths.
Images for kids
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A political cartoon by James Gillray showing Pandora, 1809
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A painting of Pandora by John William Waterhouse, 1896
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An engraving by Giulio Bonasone from the 16th century, showing Epimetheus opening the jar.
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An etching by Sébastien Le Clerc from 1676, showing Pandora and Epimetheus with the jar.
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A painting of Pandora holding the box by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1871
See also
In Spanish: Caja de Pandora para niños
