Pandora

The first woman; her name means All-Endowed because, at the command of Zeus, she was given gifts from various Immortals and was thus Endowed By All.

Zeus created Pandora as a gift for Epimetheus and despite warnings from his brother, Prometheus, Epimetheus accepted Pandora because she was irresistible; Pandora was the punishment to the race of men because Prometheus had given them fire.

Hephaistos (Hephaestus) molded Pandora’s body from earth into the likeness of a modest young girl; Athene (Athena) taught Pandora the skills of weaving and gave her dexterity; Aphrodite (goddess of Love) put a mist upon her head to engender longings and desire; Hermes gave her treachery and shamelessness; the Graces and Peitho (Persuasion) gave her necklaces of gold; the Seasons put a halo of flowers on Pandora’s head.

When Epimetheus accepted Pandora he unleashed all the evils on the world; the only positive influence that Pandora brought to the world of men was Hope; although women were designed as a curse to men, the only thing worse than marriage was for a man to live and die alone.

• Theogony, lines 561-602
• Works and Days, lines 60-105