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Lesson 8 Pandora

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56 views2 pages

Lesson 8 Pandora

Uploaded by

Christine
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Lesson 8: Pandora

The myth of Pandora and Pandora's Jar is one of the most well-known stories in Greek
mythology. It explains how the first woman, Pandora, was created by the gods and how her
curiosity led to the release of all the evils into the world. However, even after the jar was opened
and these misfortunes were unleashed, one thing remained inside: hope. This myth offers insights
into ancient Greek views on the nature of humanity, temptation, and the balance between suffering
and resilience. In this lesson, we will explore the story of Pandora, examine its themes, and
consider the symbolic meanings of the jar and the hope that it contained.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Retell the key events of Pandora’s creation, the opening of the jar, and the consequences
for humanity.
2. Explain how the themes of curiosity and disobedience drive the plot and what moral
lessons can be drawn from the story.
3. Discuss the symbolic significance of the jar and its contents, particularly the balance
between evil and hope.
4. Debate the role of hope in the myth, considering whether it is a source of optimism or an
ironic element in the context of the evils released into the world.

The Creation of Pandora


After Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, enabling humans to
develop skills, knowledge, and civilization, Zeus, the king of the gods, grew angry. He wanted to
punish both Prometheus and humanity for this transgression. Zeus devised a cunning plan: he
would create something beautiful that would bring great misfortune to humans.
Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create a beautiful woman from
clay. Hephaestus sculpted her with great care, and each of the gods contributed something to her
creation:

• Aphrodite, the goddess of love, made her irresistibly beautiful.


• Hermes, the messenger god, gave her charm and cunning speech.
• Athena, the goddess of wisdom, taught her domestic skills, such as weaving.
• Apollo gave her the gift of music.
• Hera, Zeus’ wife, gifted her with curiosity.
Zeus named this woman Pandora, meaning "all-gifted" or "gifted by all," since each god
had given her a unique gift. She was the first woman in the world, and her creation was part of
Zeus' revenge against Prometheus and humanity.

Pandora Sent to Earth


Zeus sent Pandora to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, as a gift. Prometheus had warned
Epimetheus never to accept anything from Zeus, but when Pandora arrived, Epimetheus was so
struck by her beauty and charm that he ignored his brother’s warning and married her.
With Pandora, Zeus also sent a sealed jar (which is often misinterpreted as a box in later versions
of the myth). Pandora was instructed never to open this jar, but Zeus knew that her curiosity, a
gift from the gods, would eventually lead her to do so.

Pandora Opens the Jar


For a time, Pandora lived happily with Epimetheus, but her curiosity about the contents of the jar
grew stronger every day. She wondered what was inside and why she had been forbidden to open
it.
Finally, unable to resist the temptation any longer, Pandora opened the jar. As soon as she lifted
the lid, all the evils of the world that had been trapped inside flew out into the world: **disease,
pain, suffering, death, greed, envy, hatred, war**, and all the other miseries that now plague
humanity.
Pandora was horrified by what she had done. In a panic, she quickly closed the jar, but it was too
late—all of the evils had already escaped and spread across the earth.

Hope Remains
However, when Pandora looked inside the jar, she noticed that one thing had remained: Hope.
Hope was still sealed inside, the only thing that had not escaped. In some interpretations of the
myth, hope is seen as a comfort to humanity, the one thing that gives people the strength to
endure all the suffering that had been unleashed.
In other versions, hope is seen as deceptive—it remained in the jar not to comfort humans, but to
continue misleading them, making them believe that things will get better even in the face of
constant suffering.
Regardless of interpretation, Pandora’s act of opening the jar introduced suffering into the world,
but also left humanity with hope, a reminder that even in times of great hardship, there is always
something to cling to.
Pandora’s story is often viewed as a cautionary tale about curiosity and obedience. Her curiosity,
a seemingly small act, led to the release of all the evils into the world. Yet, in this tale, the presence
of hope offers a more complex view of life, showing that although humanity must suffer, hope
remains as a vital force.

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