Pandora’s box. In ancient
mythology, Pandora was the first woman created by the gods, each of whom gave
her a special gift, hence her name, which means “all gifted.” One day, Pandora
naively lifted the lid on a box containing all the evils of the world. The myth
was used to explain death and destruction; nowadays, it’s also a metaphor that
suggests how small actions can have unforeseen consequences.