The Creation of Pandora

Published on 21/02/2010

Everything started when all the Gods and Titans were on a meeting. It was organized to decide who was taking the biggest portion of an ox that had been offered in sacrifice. Prometheus presented the ox divided in two portions: a selection of the best meat hidden inside an ox’s stomach and the ox’s bones wrapped completely in “glistening fat”.

Zeus took as Prometheus wanted, taking all the bones. When Zeus discovered the trick, he used all his rage to punish Prometheus and his beloved humans. To start he took away the fire from the humans, but Prometheus stole it again to bring it back to the humans. Then Zeus said: “You really delighted in swindling me by stealing the fire, but soon you will find it a curse to yourself and to men yet to be. I shall give them a present to compensate for the fire.”

Then, Zeus ordered Hefesos the creation of the most beautiful woman, whose beuty would be irresistible for men and gods. With her, Prometheus and the human race will get all the misery. To achieve this, Afrodita -the Goddess of love- posed as a model for the creation of the statue.

I: La creación de Pandora

The woman was created from sand and water. Once it was finished, the four winds breathed life to her. When she was already alive, all the Gods gave her their best gifts. Aphrodite gave her the beauty and the smartness and also shed grace upon her head and cruel longing and cares that weary the limbs; Athena taught her needlework and weaving; Hermes gave her a shameful mind and deceitful nature and also gave her the power of speech, putting in her lies and crafty words; the Horae adorned her with a garland crown.

This is how the first woman was born. Her name was Pandora –”All-gifted”– because all the Olympians gave her a gift. At her leaving, Hermes gave her a jar, a gift from Zeus with only one condition: it should never be opened. She was given to Prometheus as a gift. He noticed that she was a potential danger, so he gave her to his brother Epimetheus, advising him that Pandora could be dangerous.

Pandora and Epimetheus got married and live together for many years. One day, Pandora’s curiosity opened the jar never to be opened, but that’s another story to tell.

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