WORDPLAY
Gr. Myth. the first mortal woman: out of curiosity she opens a box, letting out all human ills into the world (or, in a later version, letting all human blessings escape and be lost, leaving only hope)
FAST FACTS
Prometheus, in Greek mythology, one of the Titans, a race of giants; by giving fire to mankind he saved them from annihilation by Zeus; for this Zeus bound him to a rock, where a huge bird preyed on his liver, which was devoured and renewed daily; eventually Hercules freed him; later myths say he created man; subject of ‘Prometheus Bound’, only extant part of a trilogy by Aeschylus, and ‘Prometheus Unbound’, lyrical drama by Shelley
Hephaestus, in Greek mythology, god of fire and the forge; called Vulcan by the Romans; son of Zeus and Hera; crippled by being hurled to Earth by Zeus; in some stories married Aphrodite
Hermes, in Greek mythology, messenger of gods; Roman counterpart Mercury
In Greek legend Pandora was the first woman on Earth. When it came time to populate the Earth, the gods delegated the task to Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus. Epimetheus (whose name means “afterthought” or “hindsight”) began with the animals to whom he gave all the best gifts strength and speed, cunning, and the protection of fur and feathers. Too late, he realized there was no quality left to make humankind a match for the beasts. After Prometheus (“foresight”) had stolen fire from heaven and given it to mortals, an angry Zeus determined to counteract this blessing. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to fashion a woman out of clay and adorned her with gifts from all the gods. Aphrodite gave her beauty, Hermes persuasion, and Athena feminine skills. She was named Pandora (“all-giving”).
The ancient Greek poet Hesiod, in his ‘Works and Days’, said that Zeus sent her to Earth. There, Epimetheus married her despite a warning from his brother Prometheus to accept no gifts from Zeus. Pandora either found or brought with her a mysterious jar. Epimetheus ordered Pandora never to open it. Secretly, however, she removed the lid. All human ills and evils flew out and covered the world. Hope alone was caught inside the jar.
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Related articles: RELIGIOUS INSIGHT, PANDORA
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