1. Pandora means "gifts from all" and was so named because "all of the gods" had contributed (gifts) to her creation and beauty.
2. In Greek mythology, the first mortal woman created by the gods, who was sent to earth with a jar (or box) full of evils with the purpose of avenging Prometheus' theft of fire.

Pandora opened the jar out of curiosity; therefore, releasing the evils (disease, labor, pain, and many others) into the world and although she tried to close the lid as quickly as she could, the only thing she could keep from escaping was hope.