The tale of Pandora and her enigmatic "box" was a relatively obscure myth until 1850, when it suddenly gained immense popularity, including in painting.
Pandora is a character from Greek mythology. According to the myth, she was the first woman created by the gods. She was not a mortal but rather a divine creation fashioned by Hephaestus (known as Vulcan in Roman mythology) at the command of Zeus, the king of the gods. Pandora's creation was part of a punishment against humanity, particularly Prometheus, who had stolen fire from the gods and given it to humans.
Pandora was bestowed with various gifts and attributes by different gods and goddesses. Athena clothed her, Aphrodite granted her beauty and desire, Hermes gave her the power of speech and deceitful nature, and other deities contributed their own qualities to her character. She was also given a large earthenware jar (often mistranslated as a "box" in later interpretations), which contained all the evils, sorrows, and plagues that would afflict humanity when it was opened. Curiosity got the better of Pandora, and she couldn't resist the urge to open the jar, thereby releasing all the miseries into the world. Only one thing remained in the jar after all the evils escaped, and that was Hope.
Pandora's story is often seen as a cautionary tale about the consequences of curiosity and disobedience to the will of the gods. She is not a villain in the traditional sense but rather a figure who unwittingly brought suffering into the world. Her myth has been the subject of various artistic interpretations and has played a significant role in Greek mythology.
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P.S. Pandora was one of many women described in myths. Here are 5 of the most badass women of Greek mythology! Do you know them all?