PANDORA, in fabulous history, a woman formed by Prometheus, to whom each of the gods gave some perfection. Venus bestowed upon her beauty; Pallas, wisdom; Juno, riches; Apollo, music; and Mercury, eloquence: but Jupiter being displeased at Prometheus for having stolen fire from heaven to animate the mias he had formed, gave Pandora a box, which she was ordered not to open; and then sent her to the earth with this box, in which were enclosed age, diseases, pestilence, war, famine, envy, discord, and all the evils and vices that could afflict mankind. This fatal box was opened by Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother, when instantly all the diseases and mischiefs with which it was filled spread over the earth, and Hope only remained at the bottom. Hesiod says she was the first woman.