a burrowing bivalve mollusc with a fragile shell, the unequal valves of which form a ‘box’ with a lid

the first mortal woman. In one story she was created by Zeus and sent to earth with a jar or box of evils in revenge for Prometheus' having brought the gift of fire back to the world. She let out all the evils from the container to infect the earth; hope alone remained to assuage the lot of humankind