Warning Tale- The Myth of Pandora’s Box
Are you nosy? Do you like secrets? Have you ever done something that you’ve
been warned not to? One person who was warned not to do something was
Pandora. Her story is from Ancient Greece, where her nosiness changed the
world forever!
Many, many thousands of years ago, in Ancient Greece, lived two brothers called
Epimetheus and Prometheus. Although they lived in a world where the gods
were in charge, they liked nothing more than to annoy the gods. One day, Zeus,
a particularly powerful god, wanted to teach them a lesson. He ordered the gods
to create a beautiful woman. Her name was Pandora and she was to marry
Epimetheus. As a wedding present, Zeus gave Pandora a beautiful box ,but
there was one special condition; she was never to open it!
Everyday Pandora’s husband was out working. All she could think about was what
was in the box from Zeus. Bored and fed-up, she stared at it. Why could she not
open it? Her curiosity became unbearable. Pandora searched for the key to
open the box. “I know it’s here somewhere,” she muttered to herself as she
opened cupboards and drawers. With shaking hands, Pandora slid the key into
the lock and turned it.
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and slowly, with trembling hands,
opened the box. She was imagining what could be inside: rubies as red as the
blazing sunset, jewel encrusted gowns and piles of gold coins. There were no
coins, jewellery, gowns or gems. Shockingly, every evil and spite, every sadness
and misery flew out. Like a swarm of insects, they fled the house and infested
the earth with heartache and sorrow. Pandora slammed the lid shut and turned
the key. “What have I done?” she sobbed, holding her head in her hands.
Sometime later, Pandora noticed a fluttering sound coming from the box, as if
something was trapped inside. Terrified, she pressed her ear to the box. “Let
me out,” a small voice pleaded gently. Once again, with shaking hands, Pandora
unlocked the box. A beautiful butterfly of hope fluttered out of the box.
Immediately, hope started to spread all over the world.
Sad and miserable Pandora, had to live with the world’s suffering she had
created. However, she had also allowed hope to follow them.
