According to this (highly misogynistic) logic, before Pandora-that is, before women were created-mortal men lived a completely carefree existence, which women somehow ruined.Ĭalyx-krater showing the creation of Pandora, attributed to the Niobid Painter (ca. This first woman was designed to be a “beautiful evil” who would make the lives of mortal men miserable. Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora as a punishment for mortals. Also the Guide, the Slayer of Argus, contrived within her lies and crafty words and a deceitful nature at the will of loud thundering Zeus, and the Herald of the gods put speech in her. And Pallas Athena bedecked her form with all manner of finery. And the goddess bright eyed Athena girded and clothed her, and the divine Graces and queenly Persuasion put necklaces of gold upon her, and the rich-haired Hours crowned her head with spring flowers. Forthwith the famous Lame God moulded clay in the likeness of a modest maid, as the son of Cronos purposed. And they obeyed the lord Zeus the son of Cronos. And he charged Hermes the guide, the Slayer of Argus, to put in her a shameless mind and a deceitful nature. bade famous Hephaestus make haste and mix earth with water and to put in it the voice and strength of human kind, and fashion a sweet, lovely maiden-shape, like to the immortal goddesses in face and Athena to teach her needlework and the weaving of the varied web and golden Aphrodite to shed grace upon her head and cruel longing and cares that weary the limbs. The epic poet Hesiod gives the most complete account: From Hephaestus, Pandora received a lovely shape from Athena, knowledge of crafts from Aphrodite, irresistible grace and charm from Hermes, cunning and deceitfulness and so on. Indeed, her name was interpreted by the ancient Greeks as a reference to the fact that, when she was created, each of the gods gave her a different attribute as a gift. Pandora, perhaps more than any other figure in Greek mythology, was defined by her attributes.

Pandora was sometimes known by the alternate name “Anesidora,” meaning “she who sends up gifts.” Attributes and Iconography

Pandōra) is derived from the Greek words pan, meaning “all,” and dōron, meaning “gift.” The name can thus be translated as “all-gifted” or “all-giving.” According to Hesiod, Pandora received this name because, when she was created, “all they who dwelt on Olympus gave each a gift.” Pronunciation

The name “Pandora” (Greek Πανδώρα, translit.

Anesidora myth