Myths in Modern Times Pandora
Ancient Greek mythology has presented the modern age with a smorgasbord of grand tales and classic fables that still influence storytelling today. Just one myth that has stood the test of time is that of Pandora, the ‘first woman' created by Zeus and the gods in order to punish mankind following Prometheus's theft of the gift of fire.
Pandora was a beautiful woman who was in possession of a jar – or ‘Pandora's Box'. Myth tells it that she opened this box out of curiosity and, in doing so, unleashed all the evils of man upon the world. Plagues and diseases ravaged the land and only Hope was left contained in the box.
The tale, like many ancient myths, is an epic of good and evil with a moral at its centre. The classicism central to it means it is still effective as a good yarn and means Pandora has endured as part of the Greek pantheon. With the passing of time only enhancing the ancient tales with a sense of magic and myth, writers and artists today still look to them for inspiration.
Instances of Pandora's influence in contemporary art range from entries to the literary, cinematic and musical spheres. Anne Rice named a vampire character and the novel in which she appeared ‘Pandora', while the name is also the title of a Sylvia Fraser biography and characters/places called Pandora frequently appear in manga and anime series.
Science fiction has embraced the loaded name of Pandora to accentuate its own myths. ‘Doctor Who' and ‘Smallville' have referenced it, while anyone who saw ‘Avatar' (and, let's face it, who didn't?) will be aware that it was the name of the mythical planet on which James Cameron's adventure was set. Pandora is also the name of a genuine moon that circles Saturn.
Pandora is also music to the ears when considering song titles by artists as diverse as Madina Lake, Cocteau Twins and Parkway Drive. Meanwhile, Tori Amos updated the myth to a nautical setting to discuss the loss of a child and the glimmer of hope that remains in her song ‘Pandora's Aquarium'.
With the name also lent to the popular collection of Pandora jewellery, which features treasures rather than evils within its box, it seems there is no shortage of different creations Pandora has inspired, demonstrating the legacy of ancient myths in modern times.
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