Pandora's Box is a Greek myth in which the existence of woman and the various evils in the world are explained. It all starts when Zeus, the god of all gods, decided to devise a plan to turn against the boldness of Prometheus – who had given men the ability to control fire. To do so, Zeus decides to create a woman full of gifts offered by the gods and offers her to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus.
Prior to that, Prometheus refused young Pandora from Zeus, fearing she would be part of some plot of revenge by the stolen deity. By accepting Pandora, Epimetheus also received a box containing various physical and spiritual ills that could affect the world. Unaware of the contents, he was only warned that that box could not be opened under any circumstances. With this, the artifact was kept safe, in the back of its dwelling, surrounded by two noisy magpies.
Taking advantage of her beauty, Pandora convinced her husband to get rid of the rooks that frightened her. After fulfilling his wife's request, Epimetheus maintained relations with her and fell into a deep sleep. At that moment, unable to bear her own curiosity, Pandora opened the forbidden box to spy on its contents. At that moment, she ended up releasing several illnesses and feelings that would torment the existence of Man in the world. Zeus thus completed his plan of revenge against Prometheus.
Soon realizing her mistake, Pandora hurried to close the box. With that, she managed to preserve the only positive gift that had been deposited in that container: hope. In this way, the Pandora's Box myth explains how Man is able to remain persevering even when situations prove to be quite adverse. Furthermore, this same myth explores the construction of female identity as being marked by sensuality and the power of dissimulation.
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By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Brazil School Team
Mythology - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "Pandora's Box"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/mitologia/a-caixa-pandora.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
