Pandora's Gift (Part 2)

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In the stories they paint her as a wilful, bored wife. Or worse, an evil, deceitful woman: the progenitor of all the banes of mankind. Given to man as a gift with a sting by Zeus. Pandora. The first female. They tell her in whiny tones. "But I wanna seeeee."

It wasn't like that.

The gist is right. Hephaestus, at Zeus' command, designed her to open that box. He used her to trap them. Turned their betrayal to folly. But he designed her wrong. Sure, the result was essentially the same. But he had never expected her to have a will. A mind. And the ability to use it.

He certainly hadn't expected to like her so much.

When she appeared at his castle, Epimetheus was enthralled. Pandora was beautiful. She was, after all, designed that way. Beautiful and witty and completely engaging. She had been given gifts by several of the deities. Aphrodite had given her beauty, not to mention other skills. Artemis had gifted her with endurance. Apollo had sungs songs into her ears, gifting her with music. I, in absence of wisdom, which comes only with experience, gifted her with a quick mind and the urge to learn. But it was her designer, Hephaestus who ultimately gave her the greatest gift. Only that was where all the trouble started.

When she walked up those stairs towards Epimetheus, and looked into his eyes as she bowed, submissive, and yet completely in control, announced herself his by Zeus' command, something in him broke. He wasn't stupid. Again, the legends paint him stupid. He wasn't. He knew she was a trap. He had heeded his brother's warnings and he knew that if Zeus had sent her, there was a catch. But looking into those smiling green eyes, he didn't care. Hephaestus had done his job well. Pandora was irresistable.

What people never bother to ask, is what she was thinking. She was formed, not born. She was given gifts by the gods to make her a more efficient trap. But Hephaestus loved her, like a father does. Which was what eventually led to him doing what he did. When she arrived there, she knew her task. She knew she was required to make Epimetheus open that box. She didn't know what was in it, and because she was new, she hadn't yet learned about Zeus' malicious angry streak, so it didn't occur to her to ask. She didn't yet know how vindictive he could be. Or how short-sighted.

I don't know why she did what she did. That was part of why I was here now. To find out her side of the story. And explain a little why we had all helped in the ways we did. Even the Goddess of Wisdom who, perhaps, should have known better.

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