The Myth of Pandora: A Revenge of Zeus against Prometheus, Study notes of Voice

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Pandora

By: Nick Pontikis

QUICK INTRODUCTION

When Zeus, the king of fhe^ Olympian gods, was young and^ trying to^ establish his^ rule,^ he was challenged^ by^ a^ group

of ferocious^ Titans, who^ tried^ to^ keep him^ from^ gaining^ power.^ A^ tong and^ terribte^ war^ ensued,^ with alt the^ Olympian

gods joined agoinst the Titons, who were led by Cronus and Atlos.

After fen yeors^ of fighting, and with the hetp of the Cyclopes ond^ the^ Hecatoncheires^ (The Hundred-Honded-Ones),

Zeus ond his fellow Olympions defealed the Titons. Only a few Titans, including Themis,^ Promeiheus and^ his^ brother Epimetheus, fought (^) on the side of zeus (^) - ogoinst their fettow Titans (^) - ond once Zeus won, he rewarded them.

But (^) soon Prometheus made Zeus very dngry by steoling fire from Mount Otympus and giving it to the race of mortal

men Iiving on earth, who were cold and hungry. Zeus had warned Prometheus not to give^ fire to men, ond^ was

outroged that onyone^ hod fhe^ nerve^ to^ ignore his^ command.

Stitt, he would seem ungrateful if he appeored to forget the importont role that^ Prometheus and^ his^ brother

Epimetheus hod ptoyed in the wor against the Titans, and he couldn't just^ kilt the brothers, so he cunningly devised a

scheme to get even!

PANDORA IS CREATED

In revenge, Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of smiths, to craft o gorgeous woman out of eorth and^ water.^ The

beautiful goddess^ of Love, Aphrodite, was asked to pose^ as a^ model, just^ to^ make^ sure^ the^ woman^ was^ perfecl.^ Once

this was done,^ lhe Four Winds (or^ some^ say^ Hephoestus^ himself)^ breathed^ tife into^ her^ and^ there^ she^ lay^ sleeping, brand spanking new!

The first mortal woman on eorth was to be bestowed with unporatleled charm and beauty,^ and^ her unknown^ mission

would be to bring mischief and misery^ upon^ lhe^ human race.^ zeus^ then^ summoned^ the other Olympians ond^ osked

them each to give^ this new^ creotion a^ gift.

Aphrodite adorned her with beauty, groce and desire; Hermes, the Messenger god, gave her cunning ond boldness;

Demeler showed her how io tend a garden; Athena taught her monual dexterily and to spin; Apolto tought her to

sing sweetty and ptoy^ the^ lyre; Poseidon's gift^ was^ a peorl^ necktace and^ the^ god^ of^ the^ seo^ promised^ her^ that^ she

woutd never drown.

Buf Zeus otso mode her foolish, mischievous and idle. This wos the first woman, divine in appedronce but quite humon

in reatity.

The gods colled her Pandoro, which meons "Al[-gifted", or "The^ gift of alt", because each god had given her o power

by which she would work the ruin of man, and because of the many presents bestowed upon her at Olympus.

Lovely Pandoro was created lo become the wife^ of fhe Titan Epimetheus,^ who wos^ the not-very-bright^ brother of

Promeiheus, lhe^ one who^ had^ gotten^ on^ Zeus'^ bad side.^ Before^ sending^ her to earth, the^ gods^ held^ o^ big banquet^ and

Hermes, the^ Messenger god,^ presenied^ Pandora^ with^ a^ sptendidty^ crafted^ jar^ (some^ say^ a^ box),^ odorned^ with

wonderfut imoges. Buf Hermes worned Pandora that she must never open the jar^ (box)!

She must^ NEVER open the^ box...And^ then^ Zeus'^ wife,Hera,^ gove^ her^ the^ quotity^ of^ curiosityl^ TelI^ me,^ is^ that^ fair?

Pondora wanted lo obey ihe command of the gods, and she reolly wasn't wicked,^ but^ at^ last^ she could^ no longer

contoin her curiosity. Taking the^ tittle golden^ key from^ oround^ her^ neck,^ she^ fitted^ it^ into the^ keyhole^ ond^ gently opened fhe^ box.^ Jusf a^ tiny^ bif,^ so^ that^ she could^ have^ a^ little^ peek,^ you^ see, ond^ then^ she was^ going^ to^ close^ it^ up

ogain. Just a little, finy peek...It was her wedding gift, after olt...

Bad move. No sooner hod Pandora opened the box, thal she realized her mistoke. A^ foul^ smell^ fitled the air^ and^ she

heord sworming ond rustling inside.^ In^ horror^ she slammed^ the^ lid shut,^ but^ alas^ it^ was^ too^ latel^ The^ evil^ had^ been unteashed!

You see, the vindictive gods had each put something hormful inside the box. Alt lhe plagues and sorrows known^ to

humanity were releosed once Pandora opened the^ jor.^ Old Age,^ Sickness, Insanity,^ Pesfilence, Vice,^ Possion, Greed,

Crime, Death, Theft, Lies,^ Jealousy, Famine,^ the tist^ went^ on^ and^ on...every evit,^ thot until^ then^ hod^ been lrapped

inside the gift^ from the gods,^ wds^ now loosed upon^ the earth.

First the scourges stung Pandoro and Epimetheus on every part of their body, then the evils scattered throughout

the world ond mixed with the good, so thot they were indistinguishoble, and humans had^ a hard time tetling^ belween

the two extremes. Enfering^ o house, these monster hang from^ the^ rafiers^ and^ bide^ their^ time, waiting^ for^ the

perfecl moment to swoop down and sting their victim, bringing pain, pesiilence, sorrow and deafh.

Woe was Pondoral The poor girl wos terror-stricken af whot she had caused, ond at this unexpected eruption^ of evil.

But just^ os she thought alt was lost, one little Sprite, a sotitory good thing, hidden at^ fhe^ bottom^ of the^ ior, flew

out.

If wos Hope! Deep down inside the hateful jar^ wos fhe only fhing fhat has sustained humanity in^ times^ of^ sorrow,

pain and misery - Hope. The endless Hope that things will soon get better. And it's this Hope ihat keeps us going to

this very doy, our sote comforf in times of misfortune.

But before you go btoming alI of socieiy's itls on poor Iovely Pandora, the first womon and the ultimate^ parioh,^ first

consider the following question: Woutd you hove been disciplined enough^ to^ keep^ lhe^ jar/box^ shut, or^ would you, like

Pondora, let your curiosity^ get^ the^ best^ of^ you?

Hey,if it wos MY wedding gift, I'd be opening it! Just so I could send o Thonk You note!

EPILOGUE

Here's on interesting aside: At a stilt later period, rother than oll the ills of the wortd, the box was soid to hove

confained oll the blessings of the gods. These were meont to hove been preserved for the future^ benefil^ of the

humon roce. Pandora wds instructed never to open ihe box, but once again her curiosity^ got the^ better of her,^ and

she had o peek.

The winged blessings of once took^ ftight ond escoped,^ rarely^ to^ be^ seen^ again.^ If^ only^ Pandora had^ kept the^ box closed! Who knows what our wortd woutd be like!

http://mythmon.com/

Pandora

By: Corlos Porado

Pandora,the first womon, wos so colled because eoch of the OLYMPIANS gave a gift to make her complete.

Before her there wos no womankind.

Modeling Pandoro

This is whot Zeus conceived in order to punish Prometheus ,, who had tricked the^ god^ for^ the^ benefit^ of

monkind: Teus bade Hephoesfus mix earfh with woter, and having made the^ form^ of o^ sweet,^ lovely^ womon,

with the^ foce of o^ goddess,^ to^ put^ in^ it^ a^ human^ voice.^ When^ Hephaestus had moutded^ ihe^ clay in^ the

likeness of o maid, Athena clothed her ond provided her with fine monners, teoching her needlework, and the

weoving of webs. Thereafler the other OLYMPIANS gove each a gift: Aphrodite shed groce upon her head,

ond Hermes put in her speech, a shameless mind, and a deceitfut nature. The CHARITES and^ Peithol

(Persuosion) puf necklaces of gold upon her, and the HORAE crowned her head with ftowers. And when the

work of the gods wos compleled, they catled the lovely woman they had made Pandoro, since she received

gifts from olI ihe gods.

The Jor

This living (^) iewel, with gortonds about her head and a golden crown mode by Hephaestus, was senf to

Epimetheus, who was notorious for having no foresight, and alwoys think, not before but afterwards. And

although he hod been worned by his brother Prometheus I [€Ver to toke a gift from Zeus, when Hermes came

with the girl,^ Epimetheus^ accepted^ the^ gift,^ understanding^ its^ meaning^ only tater. For^ it^ is^ told^ thot^ until

that time men lived free from itls, toi[, and sicknesses. But Pondora 1 opened a jar^ containing all evils, and

scattered them everywhere (except^ Hope thot remained inside by the witl of Zeus). And ever since those

evils hove affticted mankind as o reminder thot there is no way to escape the witl of Zeus.

The Roce of Pondoro

The female race that originoted with Pandoral has been colled "deadly."^ And it is said thai women Iive

omong men to their great trouble, being helpfut only in weotth but not in poverty.^ To this^ evil,^ Zeus^ added^ a

second one lo cduse regret regardless of the choice: For if a man refuses to marry in order to ovoid the

sorrows coused^ by^ women,^ fhen^ he reaches Otd Age^ wifhout^ anyone^ to^ tend^ his years, and^ teaves his weolth

to strangers. But if morrioge is chosen, then he may have mischievous children, tiving with unceosing grief

thot connot be healed. This kind of view was shared, mdny years^ lafer, by Theseus' son Hippolytus o, known

for hoting women. This young man believed thoi women are d curse to the human tace, and thot it would

hove been o much beller heavenly plan to let men buy their sons from the gods, poying^ their weight in

bronze, iron, (^) or gotd. For morrioge, he believed, consists in supporting a stranger, who usually squanders ihe

family fortune, spending in gowns and other beautiful items thot she heaps on her haiefutness. And ihe more

clever the womon, fhe worse, he thought, for the sexual urge breeds wickedness more readily in clever

women. However, it is atso soid that Pandora (^) t was not o curse sent from heaven, but that she, endowed with

ott kinds of gifts,^ was given^ by the^ gods^ to^ men becouse^ they^ wished^ to^ show^ all^ mortals^ thot^ they^ coutd^ do

even beller^ than^ Prometheus 1, who^ had given^ them^ fire.

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PRO}CETHE{JS AN{D PAN{DORA

This is the story of how the world began,^ as^ the ancient^ Greeks^ told^ it.

The first thing that existed, the oldest thing of all,was chaos.^ No one

can say what chaos looked^ like.It^ had no height,^ or^ width^ or depth,^ yet^ it

was everywhere. And out of chaos Mother Earth emerged. Her^ name^ was

Gaia.Gaiacreated the mountains, the^ plains,^ the rivers^ and^ the^ foaming

seas. Then she took a husband - Uranus, the starry sky - and^ poured^ forth

living creatures, the lion, the horse, the eagle and all the birds and beasts

we know today. But others that she made^ were^ strange and monstrous,

giants with a hundred arms or one eye in their forehead, and nymphs, the

female spirits of the woods and waters.^ Then^ Gaia^ bore^ the first^ rulers^ of

the earth, six sons and six daughters - the Titans.

The Titans were like their mother - strong and lawless. Cronus, their

ruler, ate his children as soon as they were^ born,^ for^ Gaiahad^ warned^ him

thatapowerful son would overthrow him. His precautions were^ useless,

for not even the gods can escape their fate.^ It^ was^ the destiny^ of^ the Titans

to be defeated by younger, noblergods. Cronus's wife^ Rhea^ outwitted^ her

hated husband. She hid her sixth child, a boy named Zeus,^ in^ a^ cave,^ and

offered Cronus agreatstone swaddled like^ a baby to^ eat instead.^ Cronus

thrust the^ stone^ into^ his stomach,^ never^ dreaming that he^ hadason^ alive,

cared for by the nymphs and growing^ stronger^ by^ the^ day.

One day Rhea said to Cronus'I have got^ rid of that useless^ creature^ that

serves you at table. This is^ your^ new cupbearer.'The new^ attendant,^ who

looked tallandpowerful, offered Cronus a honeyed drink.^ Cronusgulped

it bown andatonce felt drowsy^ and^ rather^ ill.^ As^ he slid^ into^ irresistible

sleep, he realized, in a befuddled way, that he had^ been^ tricked.^ The

cupbearer was his son Zeus,^ who^ had^ given him^ a^ herb^ to^ make^ him

vomit violently in his sleep. Out came the stone he^ had^ swallowed^ followed

GREEK MYTHS

by Zeus's^ elder brothers and^ sisters,^ who

sprang out^ quite^ unhurt. They bound their

father with chains and declared^ Zeus^ master

of the world.

Zeus cast the Titans to the outer^ ends^ of

the earth'and compelled^ Atlas,^ the^ brawniest,

to support the sky upon^ his shoulders^ for

ever. '['he^ new^ gods made^ their^ home^ on

the top of lofty^ Mount^ Olympus. From^ his

lxrl:rce high above the clouds^ Zeus^ kept^ an

t:ye on what went^ on below.^ His^ brow^ grew

very black^ when^ he^ discovered the Titans

befriending some creatures^ that were^ new

on earth - mortal beings called men.

Some say^ that^ Mother Earth had^ made

men spring from the rocks^ and^ soil.^ Others

say aTitancalled Prometheus^ took^ potter's

clay and modelled^ them. Prometheus^ was

clever, a maker of things^ who^ taught^ men

skills when^ they^ were^ new^ to^ the^ world.

Mother Earth gave^ him^ an^ enormous^ basket

of gifts and^ told him^ to^ share^ them out among

all mortal creatures.'I have^ made^ them^ too

hastily,'she said,'and life^ is^ hard^ for^ them.'

Now Prometheus had a^ brother^ called

Epimetheuswho was^ as^ f'oolish^ as^ Prometheus was wise. \When^ Epimetheus^ saw^ the^ basket

he begged to be allowed to do the^ sharing.

'Certainly not' said Prometheus.'You'll

make a mess of it.'

But Epimetheus pleaded so^ much^ that

Prometheus agreed he could^ start giving

away the small gifts. Epimetheus gave^ a^ shell to the crab, fangs to the^ snake,long^ legs^ to^ the

hare, and so on. He soon came^ to the end^ of

the smaller things. Then hegave^ swift^ wings

to the^ eagle^ and^ ferocity to^ the lion,^ and^ so

delighted them that^ he^ could not^ stop.^ \When

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her irresistible charm. Each god^ gave

something, and^ she was named^ Pandora,

which means'all gifts', because nothing was

omitted that could win rnen's hearts.

Zets then commanded Hermes the

messenger to lead Pandora down to earth.

But at the last^ minute^ he^ called thern back.

'This is for you'he said and he gave Pandora

a box.'But see that you never open it'he added, and smiled secretly.

Hermes brought Pandora to Prometheus,

but he was suspicious and refused to have

anything to do with her. Soft-hearted

Epimetheus said,'I'll look after her.'

'Don't,' Prometheus told him.'You are :r

fool, Epimetheus. No good will come of

anything from Zeus.'

Epimetheus did not listen. He took

Pandora home and the two lived contentedly

for a time. Then Pandora became restless.

'I can't think why Zeusgave me that box,'

she kept saying.

'Neither can I'Epimetheus would reply

without much^ interest.

'He told me not to look in it.'

'Then we needn't bother about it, need

we, Pandora?'

But Pandora could not leave it at that. She

thought that Epimetheus^ was stupid to show

so little curiosity.'I'll take just one peep,'she

thought. She^ undid the clasp.

Immediately the lid flew open and a

swarm of hideous mischiefs and misfortunes

shot into the air *^ envy andgreed and sickness and old age, famine and war, deceit,lies, fear,

and useless pride.^ Pandora^ shrieked as^ th

horrid things rushed past her face and flew

into the open air, scattering far and wide

throughout the world, where they have been

tormenting people ever since.It was too late

now to close the box. There was only one

thing left in it, a tiny flame that flickered as

if at any moment it would go out. This too

rose in the air and followed the rest.^ This

flame was Hope. Zeus's heart had softened

sufficiently to allow mankind^ this one comfort, which has helped it to endure a thousand ills.

11

M

In the Beginning Pandoia's (^) Box

At the very beginning, the gods ruled over on empty world. From their home

'n Mount^ Olympus,^ where^ they^ lived^ in^ hslls of sunlight qnd cloud,^ they

,,iied out over oceons qnd islcnds, woodlqnd qnd hitl. But nothing moved

il Lj:i.: lsndscqpe becquse there were no animqls or birds or people.

Zeu:;. king of the gods, gave Prometheus qnd^ his brother Epimetheus the

tosk c'o; mcking living creotures, ond he sent them down to live on eqrth.

Epimetheus mqde turtles cnd gove them shells; he mode horses cnd gove

them tqils qnd^ mqnes. He mqde qnteqters^ ond gave them long noses qnd

longer tongues; he mode birds and gave them the gift of flight. But although

Epimetheus wqs o wonderful crqftsmqn, he wcs not necrly qs clever qs his

brother. So Prometheus wqtched over his brother's work cnd, when qll the

onimsls cnd birds, insects qnd^ fishes were mqde, it (^) wcs Prometheus who mqde the very last (^) creqture of qll.^ He took soil, odded wqter, qnd mixed it

into mud, qnd out of thqt he molded First Mqn.

"I'll moke him just^ like us gods-two (^) legs, two orms, (^) ond upright-

not crowling on qll^ fours. All the other beqsts spend their doys looking ot

the ground,^ but Mcn will look ot the stqrs!"

tWhen he hqd finished, Prometheus wqs very proud of whqt he hqd mqde.

But when it cqme to giving Mqn q^ gift, (^) there wqs nothing left to give! "Give him q^ toil," (^) scid Epimetheus. But qll^ the tqils hod gone. (^) "Give him

o trunk," Epimetheus suggested. But the elephant olreody hod thqt. "Give

him fur," scid Epimetheus, (^) but qll^ the fur hqd been used up.

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bound with bqnds of iron. \ffhen^ he reqched his home qt^ the foot of Mount

olympus, Epimetheus set the chest down in q^ dark corner, covered it with q

blonket, cnd put it out of his mind. After all, with Psndorq for q bride, whor

more could he possibly wqnt?

In those doys the world wos q wonderful ploce to live. No one wqs sqd.

Nobody ever grew old orill. And Epimetheus msrried (^) Pondora; she cqme to

live in his house, cnd everything she wqnted he gove her.

But sometimes, when she cought sight of the chest, Pondorq would scy,

"$7hot q^ strqnge wedding present. \Why^ con't we open it?"

"Never mind why. Remember, you must never touch itr" (^) Epimetheus

rvould reply shorply. "Not touch qt^ qll.^ Do you hecr?"

"of (^) course I won't touch it. It's (^) only on old chest. whqt do I wqnt with (^) sn

old chest?... \7hqt do you think is inside?"

"Never mind whqt's inside. Put it out of your mind."

And Pqndors did try. She reolly did. But one doy, when Epimetheus wos

ottl, shc just could not forget qbout^ the chest ond somehow she found herself

sttrnding right beside it.

"Nu!" (^) she told herself. "I expect (^) it's full of cloth-or dishes-or pcpers.

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Something dull."^ She^ bustled^ about^ the house.^ She^ tried to^ reqd' Then ' '^ '^ .:

" Let^ us^ out!"

"\fho sqid^ thqt?"

"Do let^ us^ out, Psndorq!"

Pandorq looked out^ of the^ window. But^ in^ her^ heort^ of heqrts^ she^ knew

that the voice^ wqs^ coming^ from^ the chest.^ She^ pulled bqck^ the^ blqnket^ with

finger qnd^ thumb.^ The^ voice^ wqs^ louder now:^ "Pleqse, please dolet^ uS^ out,

Pqndorq!"

,,I cqn't. I mustn,t." She crouched down beside the chest.

,,oh, but youhaoeto. we wantyolJto. \7e needyouto, Pondorc!" "But I promised!"^ Her fingers^ stroked the^ lqtch' ,,It,s (^) ecsy. The key's in the lock," soid the little voice-c purring little voice. It was.^ A big^ golden^ keY. "No. No,^ I^ mustn'tr"^ she^ told^ herself' "But you^ do want^ to,^ Pandora.^ And why^ shouldn't^ you?^ It^ was^ your

wedding present^ too, wosn't^ it?^.^.^.^ Oh,^ cll right,^ don't^ let^ us^ out'^ Just peep

inside. Whqt harm^ csn^ thot^ do?"

Pcndorq's heart beqt^ fqster.

Click. The^ keY^ turned.

Clack. Clack. The^ lstches^ were^ unlatched'

BANG!

The lid flew bqck and Pondoro^ wqs^ knocked^ over^ by cn^ icy^ wind^ full^ of

grit. It filted the room^ with^ howling.^ It^ tore^ the curtqins and^ stoined^ them

brown. And after^ the^ wind^ cclme^ slimy things, growling sncrling^ things,

clows qnd^ snouts,^ revolting things^ too nasty^ to look^ crt,^ cll^ slithering out^ of

the chest.

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GREEK MYTHS

Chqined to^ his^ cliff,^ Prometheus^ could^ do^ nothing^ to^ help^ the^ little

mud-people he^ hqd mqde.^ Though^ he^ writhed snd^ strqined,^ there^ w61s^ no

breaking free.^ All^ qround him^ he^ could^ hesr^ the^ sound^ of^ crying. Now^ thqt

the snqrling creqtures hqd^ been^ let^ loose,^ there^ would^ be no^ more^ eosy^ days

or peqceful^ nights^ for^ men^ snd^ women!^ They would^ be^ unkind, ofroid,

greedy, unhoppy. And^ one^ dcy^ they must^ qll^ die^ qnd^ go to^ live^ os^ ghosts^ in

the cold^ dqrk^ Underworld. The thought^ of^ it^ qlmost broke^ Prometheus's

heqrt.

Then, out of^ the^ corner of^ his eye,^ he^ glimpsed^ q^ little^ white^ flicker^ of^ light

qnd felt something, smoll qs q^ butterfly, touch his bqre^ breqst.^ Hope^ cqme

to rest over his^ heqrt.

He felt a sudden^ strength,^ q^ sort of couroge. He^ wqs sure^ thqt^ his^ life^ wqs

not over. No^ mqtter^ how^ bod things cre todcy,^ tomorrow^ mcy^ be^ better,

he thought. One^ doy^ someone^ mqy^ come^ this^ wcy-tcke^ pity^ on^ me-

breqk these^ chqins^ qnd^ set me^ free.^ One^ doy!

The eogles pecked^ qt^ the^ fluttering^ shred^ of^ light^ but^ were^ too slow^ to

cqtch it^ in^ their^ beqks.^ Hope fluttered^ on^ its wcy,^ blowing cround^ the

world like q^ single^ tiny^ tongue^ of^ flqme.

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FAruffiORA

ln the beginning of the world,^ the^ gods^ of^ Olympus created men^ and

animals. They set^ the^ Titan brothers^ Prometheus^ and^ Epimetheus the

task of^ giving^ to^ each^ of^ the^ new creatures^ of^ the world^ its own^ special

qualities.

First of all, Epimetheus made^ the^ choices^ for the^ birds and^ animals.

Some he made strong^ but^ not swift,^ others^ fleet^ of^ foot^ but^ timid.^ Some

were given cunning, some^ armor,^ others winged^ flight^ or^ the^ means^ to

make burrows in^ the earth.^ Some creatures he^ made^ large^ for their^ own

safety, others^ tiny^ so^ that^ they could^ hide.^ He gave^ them^ also^ protection

from sun, rain, and wind: thick^ fur^ or^ dense^ feathers^ or^ leathery^ skin^ or hooves to protect their feet.^ He made^ them all in^ such a^ way^ that^ every creature had the means to^ defend^ itself and no^ race^ of^ creatures could

entirely destroy another.

Epimetheus was^ generous,^ but^ he^ did^ not^ think^ ahead.^ When he^ had distributed gifts^ to all^ the^ birds and^ animals^ of^ the^ earth,^ he^ found that there were none^ left^ for^ Prometheus^ to^ give^ to^ men. Men were^ naked,

without hairy covering, without^ shoes, and^ with^ no^ means^ of defending

themselves.

storeroom of^ Epimetheus' house^ was a^ great^ stone^ jar^ set^ into the^ floor.

It was quite plain, with^ no^ markings^ on it,^ and was closed^ tightly with^ a

stone stopper.

"What is in the jar?"^ Pandora asked her husband'

Epimetheus did^ not^ know.^ "The gods^ gave^ it^ to^ me^ for^ safekeeping at the beginning of the world.^ They^ warned^ me^ not^ to^ open^ it." Pandora stared at^ the^ closed^ jar. "But^ don't^ you want^ to^ see inside?"

"No doubt it containS some^ gifts^ or^ Powers that^ were never^ required,"

said Epimetheus. He had no curiosity. The^ world,^ it^ seemed^ to^ him,^ was

a good^ place, and whatever^ was^ in^ the^ jar, he had^ no need^ of^ it.

But Pandora could not^ leave^ the jar^ alone.^ She^ came back^ to it^ day after day and puzzled over^ what^ it^ might contain.^ She^ listened at^ the

jar; she sniffed it; she knocked with^ her knuckles on^ the^ side.^ She^ would

have shaken it,^ except^ that^ it^ was^ too^ big^ and^ was^ wedged firmly^ in^ the

earth floor.

Gradually all^ her attention^ became centerd^ on^ the^ lid.^ This was^ a heavy stone^ stopper that^ had been^ dropped in^ place^ to^ fit^ closely^ into^ '

the neck of the jar. lt^ was^ neither sealed nor locked.^ All^ she^ had^ to^ do to

see inside was to^ lift^ it. At first she pestered^ her husband.^ '!ust^ a^ quick peek!"^ she^ begged'

"The gods won't know." But when^ she^ realized^ that^ he^ would^ not^ agree

to open it,^ she^ became secretive.^ She^ would^ get^ uP in^ the dead of night

and light a lamp and^ go^ and^ look^ at^ the^ jar^ and^ wonder,^ and sometimes

,J

close her hand around the knob

on the lid to feel its weight and

almost, almost, begin to lift it.

One night the temptation became too much for^ her.^ She put her hand on the^ lid,^ thinking, l'll raise^ it^ a little,^ just enough^ to peek, and then quickly put it back.

And slowly, with a scrape of stone

on stone, she li{ted the stopper up

until it cleared the rim of the jar. She was about to peer in^ when out of the darkness inside^ came a rush^ of wings,^ a^ shrill^ shrieking, a beating^ and^ buffeting^ and howling. Pandora dropped the lid

and screamed in terror as the lamp

was blown out and the dark room filled with noise and movement. Unseen things brushed past her, things that stung and scratched

and tore at her hair and howled to

be let out.

L rt Ii ri #.* ,+4 l, ip

• (^) 165*