In the beginning, the life of man was perfect with no glitches. Eventually, misery, sorrows, and failures snuck up upon mankind. The creators of the race of man created only men. For a long time there were no women. Zeus got very angry at mankind, because they had minds of their own and were going against his plans. He decided to punish them by creating the first woman (Zeus had obviously not met any women before). For this craft he called upon Hephaestus, the god of smithing. He asked him to create the most beautiful thing that he possibly could. Hence the first woman was born. Each of the gods gave her a gift (this is where the fairies in Sleeping Beauty originated from.) The gods bestowed upon her the best things they could think of within their power, therefore she was called Pandora, meaning "all gifted"
When she was completed, Hermes, the messenger of the gods, led her down to earth.
You see, there were three rules in mythology:
(1. Never accept a gift from the gods
2. Always say thank you after accepting a gift from the gods
3. Never judge a contest between the gods
Epimetheus, who always thought about something after he acted, accepted Pandora as a gift from the gods. He led her, and the heavy clay box that had been sent with her, into his house.
The gods had told her never ever to open the box. Pandora, who was given the gift of curiosity, was having a hard time with this. After restraining herself for as long as she possibly could, she gave in and cautiously lifted the lid, only wanting a peek.
In a heartbeat, all of the horrors entered the world. This was because each of the gods had stowed away in the box the most horrible thing that they could imagine. Everything evil and wicked flew out of that box in only a matter of moments.
Pandora, realizing what she had done, tried to put the lid back on, but it broke in her hands. All free happy moments were now taken away from mankind forever.
From that point forward, mankind would have to work for what he needed. Only one good thing flew out of the jar. That good thing was hope. Hope helps man when he needs something to hold onto, and it's always there.
