We all would have heard the story of the curious young lady, Pandora, and how her curiosity is responsible for all the troubles we face today :) It feels good to have someone to blame for all our sorrows.
Here, I would like to narrate the story of Pandora's box as it is believed to be in the Greek Mythology. Yet again, there could be various versions of the story. The beginning, middle or the end of my story may be different from some of the versions.
The great artist that Hephaestus was, created the most beautiful woman out of clay. Zeus called other Gods and Goddesses and told them to gift the clay woman with various gifts. Athena clothed her in the best of clothes and Hermes gifted her with the power to lie. Other Gods and Goddesses gifted her with different traits. As she was all gifted, Zeus called her Pandora, the all gifted.
Zeus gifted Pandora to Epimetheus. Epimetheus was warned by Prometheus to not receive anything from Zeus. But the mesmerizing beauty of Pandora caught Epimetheus off guard and he readily accepted Pandora, who was sent by Zeus with Hermes, the messenger.
Epimetheus and Pandora lived happily as a couple. Epimetheus did everything Pandora ordered him to do except for one thing. Prometheus had left a huge cask with Epimetheus and had told him never to open the cask, come what may. Epimetheus had never opened the cask, as instructed by his brother. But Pandora questioned Epimetheus again and again about the contents of the cask and why he wasn't ready to open the cask. Epimetheus explained to her that he had promised his brother to take care of the cask, in his absence, and would make sure it wasn't opened.
Pandora wasn't convinced. The more Epimetheus discouraged Pandora, she became more curious about the contents of the box.
One day, when Epimetheus had gone out, Pandora slowly entered the room where the cask was kept. She tried to hear if there was anything inside the cask and heard a tapping noise from inside the cask. She slowly opened the cask, to get a peek. Before she realized, out came flying, sickness, hatred, death, war, sorrow, theft, violence, unrest and all the troubles that the world wasn't aware of till then.
She quickly closed the lid but it was already too late. All the troubles had flown out of the cask, into the world of men.
She sat there crying, holding her face in the palms of her tender hands. When Epimetheus returned, he was shocked to see Pandora in such a state. He ran towards her and asked her what had happened. Pandora narrated the entire episode to Epimetheus. Before Epimetheus could say anything, they heard a mild thud from inside the cask. There seemed to be a little voice asking to be let out. Epimetheus slowly lifted the lid, and out flew a beautiful, colorful being which twinkled like the stars in the night sky. Pandora could not hold herself and asked, "Who are you?" The tiny twinkling being replied "I am hope. I shall stay in the heart of every man, no matter how much trouble men get into, I shall never leave them!"
Here, I would like to narrate the story of Pandora's box as it is believed to be in the Greek Mythology. Yet again, there could be various versions of the story. The beginning, middle or the end of my story may be different from some of the versions.
Pandora's Box
Prometheus and Epimetheus were brothers, a pair of titans who represented the mankind. Prometheus was very kind towards human beings and hence stole the holy fire from the heaven and gifted the human beings the art of making fire. Zeus, the father of God and Men, was very unhappy with Prometheus as he felt that the art of making fire was precious and had to be known only to the Gods. He decided to teach Prometheus a lesson and called for his son, Hephaestus, the architect of Gods. He gave him the task of creating a woman out of clay.The great artist that Hephaestus was, created the most beautiful woman out of clay. Zeus called other Gods and Goddesses and told them to gift the clay woman with various gifts. Athena clothed her in the best of clothes and Hermes gifted her with the power to lie. Other Gods and Goddesses gifted her with different traits. As she was all gifted, Zeus called her Pandora, the all gifted.
Zeus gifted Pandora to Epimetheus. Epimetheus was warned by Prometheus to not receive anything from Zeus. But the mesmerizing beauty of Pandora caught Epimetheus off guard and he readily accepted Pandora, who was sent by Zeus with Hermes, the messenger.
Epimetheus and Pandora lived happily as a couple. Epimetheus did everything Pandora ordered him to do except for one thing. Prometheus had left a huge cask with Epimetheus and had told him never to open the cask, come what may. Epimetheus had never opened the cask, as instructed by his brother. But Pandora questioned Epimetheus again and again about the contents of the cask and why he wasn't ready to open the cask. Epimetheus explained to her that he had promised his brother to take care of the cask, in his absence, and would make sure it wasn't opened.
Pandora wasn't convinced. The more Epimetheus discouraged Pandora, she became more curious about the contents of the box.
One day, when Epimetheus had gone out, Pandora slowly entered the room where the cask was kept. She tried to hear if there was anything inside the cask and heard a tapping noise from inside the cask. She slowly opened the cask, to get a peek. Before she realized, out came flying, sickness, hatred, death, war, sorrow, theft, violence, unrest and all the troubles that the world wasn't aware of till then.
She quickly closed the lid but it was already too late. All the troubles had flown out of the cask, into the world of men.
She sat there crying, holding her face in the palms of her tender hands. When Epimetheus returned, he was shocked to see Pandora in such a state. He ran towards her and asked her what had happened. Pandora narrated the entire episode to Epimetheus. Before Epimetheus could say anything, they heard a mild thud from inside the cask. There seemed to be a little voice asking to be let out. Epimetheus slowly lifted the lid, and out flew a beautiful, colorful being which twinkled like the stars in the night sky. Pandora could not hold herself and asked, "Who are you?" The tiny twinkling being replied "I am hope. I shall stay in the heart of every man, no matter how much trouble men get into, I shall never leave them!"
