She is Hope

Inspired by the goddess of Hope who was revered in Ancient Greece, and later, Ancient Rome (after the Romans conquered Greece, they stole their religion, but changed the names of the gods and goddesses) My research revealed how her story changes; as does hope itself. In the myth of Pandora, all of the harmful things in the world were released from the box she was told not to open, but did, because she was curious.  Hope remained hidden, when the lid closed her in. The story, which is thousands of years old, ended that way in many versions. As a child I wondered why Pandora didn’t let Hope out. Was she too afraid to open the box again? As an adult I know the story as metaphor and understand that Hope is not known until she is released, and that usually happens during despair and suffering. Once free she can make magic happen. Here she releases a Phoenix, a mythical bird that perpetually rises from the ashes of despair.