Inscription:

There are different versions of Pandora’s story, according to Greek myth the first woman of Earth, some stories darker and with worse connotations than others.

Inspired by Jeannine Parvati Baker, I have chosen to interpret it otherwise in this painting.

I see in my mind’s eye the demi-god Prometheus acting out of Love to steal holy fire from the capricious and quarrelsome gods as a gift to humankind.

Then I see Zeus, a god drunk with prodigious strength, a symbol of all such men greedy and arrogant with power. He exacts horrible punishment on Prometheus the Bringer of Fire. Zeus then turns his vengeance on mankind, first on Prometheus’ brother Epimetheus and wife Pandora.

I see Pandora, tricked into the opening the forbidden sealed box. I believe this occurs not through her fault, but through Zeus exploiting her qualities of discovery and kindness.

The box is opened, and the hosts of imprisoned evils and terrible woe are loosed as winged pestilence upon all humankind.

But I see Pandora as an agent of another god or goddess, unnamed but who with compassion for the human race concealed the virtue of Hope also within the box.

And I see Hope emerging to touch Pandora and Epimetheus, flying forth as a brilliant light into the world, seeking to heal all who have been touched by ministers of evil and darkness.