(from πάν, every, and δώρον, a gift), a personage who is represented in classical mythology as the first mortal woman. The following account is her history, as given by Hesiod:—Jupiter, enraged at Prometheus for having stolen fire from heaven, resolved to send upon the earth some great evil under a lovely and bewitching disguise. Vulcan was accordingly commanded to create out of clay a female possessing the form and features of an immortal goddess. The divinities of Olympus were then summoned to adorn the new being with their gifts. Venus breathed upon her grace and beauty, Mercury instilled into her mind insinuating and impudent artifices, Minerva taught her domestic accomplishments and clothed her with becoming garments, and the Hours and Graces decked her with golden necklaces and crowned her with flowering chaplets. Thus adorned, as the name then given to her implied, with all the gifts of the gods, Pandora was sent by the hand of Mercury to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus. That infatuated individual, although warned beforehand, accepted the fascinating present, and entailed perpetual misery upon the human race. In a short time, a peculiar vase came under the inquisitive eye of the woman; her hand was tempted to open it; a swarm of plagues, privations, and miseries hitherto kept imprisoned, immediately flew forth to haunt the world for ever; and Hope alone remained at the bottom.