1- Pandora

Legendary Women- Section 1

who was Pandora in ancient myth?

the first woman to be created

why was she born/made?

she was made by the gods after the creation of man, sent down as a punishment because Prometheus gave mortals fire

what was life like before Pandora?

they lived in a paradise

• no one died

• no disease

• peace and prosperity

why did Prometheus give the mortals fire?

he was humankinds creator, and wanted them to have all the luxuries the gods did

why did Prometheus giving mortals fire make Zeus angry

Zeus was scared that if the mortals had fire and too much power, they would be able to take over the gods

how was Prometheus punished for giving fire to the mortals

he was chained to a rock and every day an eagle would come down and eat his liver out, but because he’s immortal it would grow back over night, and this process repeated every day

who crafted Pandora

Hephaestus; mixed water and earth , put speech and strength in it and shaped it to look like a pretty maiden

what did the different gods give Pandora as gifts

• Hermes- thievish nature and crafty words, shameless mind and deceit, “bitch’s mind and a thievish nature”

• Athena- taught her crafts and weaving, clothed her

• Aphrodite- beauty “charm about her face”, desire

• Graces and Lady Persuasion- golden trinkets upon her skin

• Seasons- a garland made of flowers

what’s the difference between Pandora’s interior and exterior

exterior- beautiful, charming, enticing

interior- evil, deceptive

who married Pandora

Epimetheus- his name means afterthought

what does Prometheus mean

forethought

why did Epimetheus accept Pandora

he was told by Prometheus never to accept gifts from the gods, however he forgot and accepted Pandora because of her beauty

what did Zeus

nature of women is:

• deceitful

• punishment from gods

• seductive/appealing'

• necessary evil (due to motherhood)

• to be submissive; have no agency (Pandora didn’t have a say as to whether to open the jar or not to release the evils into the world)

what does Hesiod’s works and days show us

• shows Zeus’s authority over everyone and everything; power imbalance; everything always comes back to his power and authority

• focuses on Pandora’s exterior

• describes Pandora as a “bane”