Did you know that in Greek mythology, Pandora’s Box is not actually a box, but rather a jar (pithos) given to Pandora. It contained all the evils of the world. According to the myth, Pandora opened the jar out of curiosity and inadvertently released all the evils into the world. However, at the bottom of the jar lay Hope, which remained inside, either to comfort humanity or because Pandora closed the jar before it could escape.
This story serves as an ancient Greek explanation for the existence of all the miseries of life, and the presence of hope amidst these hardships. The phrase “Pandora’s Box” has since become a metaphor for a source of great and unexpected troubles, or a situation that may yield unforeseen and unpredictable consequences.
Although the Ancient Greeks had a concept of “evil,” it’s important to understand that their perspective was quite different from modern interpretations. The Greek understanding of “evil” was more nuanced and less absolute than in some later Western conceptions, especially those influenced by monotheistic religions like Christianity.
In ancient Greek mythology, there wasn’t a specific deity who personified evil in the way that later religious traditions might define a god or figure that represents evil. Greek gods and goddesses were generally more morally complex and multifaceted, often embodying a range of attributes, both positive and negative, rather than being embodiments of pure good or evil.
However, there were deities and mythological figures associated with aspects that could be considered malevolent or harmful:
- Eris: The goddess of strife and discord, Eris is perhaps the closest to what might be considered a deity of negative aspects. She is famously known for starting the chain of events that led to the Trojan War by tossing the Apple of Discord, inscribed “To the Fairest,” among the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite.
- Hades: Often misconstrued as an evil deity due to his role as the god of the underworld, Hades was more a ruler of the dead than a personification of evil. He was stern and unyielding, but not evil in the sense of being malevolent or diabolical.
- Ares: The god of war, Ares represented the brutal and destructive aspects of battle, in contrast to Athena, who represented strategic warfare and skill. Ares’ aggressive and bloodthirsty nature often brought chaos and destruction, which could be perceived as evil.
- Nyx: The primordial goddess of the night, Nyx, was sometimes associated with dark and mysterious elements. However, like many Greek deities, she was not evil per se but rather embodied a natural and essential aspect of the world.
- The Furies (Erinyes): While not gods in the traditional sense, the Furies were fearsome chthonic deities of vengeance and retribution. They punished mortals who swore false oaths or committed heinous crimes, especially familial betrayals. Their role was more about maintaining moral order than being embodiments of evil.
These figures represent the complex Greek understanding of divinity, where gods could have negative aspects but were not wholly defined by them, reflecting the multifaceted nature of existence and morality in Greek thought.
The jar
In ancient Greek, the word “πίθος” (pithos) refers to a large storage jar, typically made of clay. Pithoi (plural of pithos) were used for storing bulk goods, often foodstuffs like grain, olive oil, or wine. They were a common item in ancient Greek households and were especially important in an economy that relied heavily on agriculture and trade.
These jars were usually quite large, some big enough for a person to fit inside, and were often partially or completely buried in the ground for stability and to keep the contents cool. The design of a pithos made it ideal for long-term storage of goods, as it could protect its contents from air and moisture.
The famous “Pandora’s Box” from Greek mythology was a pithos, in the original story. The mistranslation from ‘pithos’ to ‘box’ occurred when the story was retold in Latin and the word ‘pithos’ was mistakenly translated to ‘pyxis,’ which means ‘box.’ This is a classic example of how nuances in ancient texts can be lost or altered in translation, leading to different interpretations in modern times.
There is a crucial element to the myth that offers a counterbalance to the notion of irreversibility, the retention of Hope inside the jar. According to the most common version of the story, after releasing all the evils, Pandora quickly closed the jar, trapping Hope inside. This act has been interpreted in various ways, although critics of the myth consider that Hope is not much of a counter to the evils of the world and that a virtue such as Courage would have been more useful.
Such a viewpoint underscores the importance of balancing Hope itself with action, and recognizing the potential limits of Hope when it is not accompanied by a sense of personal agency or practical steps towards change. This balance is crucial in harnessing Hope’s benefits while acknowledging and exercising one’s power to effect change.
The Greek choice of Hope over another virtue, such as Courage in the myth, can be seen as a reflection of the complexities and ambiguities of life. It suggests that while humans may face innumerable trials and evils, the ability to maintain Hope is a crucial, albeit sometimes insufficient, tool for coping with the difficulties of existence.
Pandora’s Creation and Purpose
According to Hesiod, Pandora was created by the gods as a punishment for humanity after Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans. Each god contributed to her creation, endowing her with various gifts. Thus, Pandora herself was part of the gods’ retribution towards humans.
The jar given to Pandora, filled with evils, can be seen as a trap set by the gods, particularly Zeus. In this sense, Pandora’s opening of the jar fulfils the gods’ plan to punish humans for Prometheus’s transgression.
In the myth, Pandora’s actions might be interpreted as driven by curiosity and naivety, rather than malice or defiance. There’s a sense that she was fated to open the jar as part of the gods’ design and that Pandora and her actions are often interpreted as representing the human trait of curiosity, and the myth itself is seen as an explanation for the existence of evil in the world.