Elpis (mythology)

In Greek mythology, Elpis (ἐλπίς) is the spirit of hope. She was depicted as a young woman, usually carrying flowers or a cornucopia in her hands.

Family
Elpis is perhaps a mother of Pheme, the goddess of fame, renown and rumor.

Mythology
In Hesiod's Works and Days, Elpis was the last item in Pandora's box (or jar). Based on Hesiod's description, the debate is still alive to determine if Elpis was only hope, or more generally expectation. Her equivalent in Roman mythology was Spes.

Hesiod's Works and Days
The more famous version of the Pandora myth comes from one of Hesiod's poems, Works and Days. In this version of the myth (lines 60–105), Hesiod expands upon her origin, and moreover widens the scope of the misery she inflicts on mankind. Pandora brings with her a jar containing "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men" (91–92), diseases (102) and "a myriad other pains" (100). Prometheus had – fearing further reprisals – warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. But Epimetheus did not listen; he accepted Pandora, who promptly scattered the contents of her jar. As a result, Hesiod tells us, "the earth and sea are full of evils" (101). One item, however, did not escape the jar (96–99), hope:

Only Hope was left within her unbreakable house, she remained under the lip of the jar, and did not fly away. Before [she could], Pandora replaced the lid of the jar. This was the will of aegis-bearing Zeus the Cloudgatherer.

Hesiod does not say why hope (elpis) remained in the jar. The implications of Elpis remaining in the jar were the subject of intense debate even in antiquity.

Hesiod closes with this moral (105): "Thus it is not possible to escape the mind of Zeus."

Namesakes

 * Elpis was the name of a concubine of Herod the Great; her origins and fate are unknown.