O: laureate draped bust of Diocletianus A K Γ OYAΛ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB	R: Elpis holding flower and raising skirt L A (coin is from 1st year of reign)
potin tetradrachm struck in Alexandria 284-285 AD; ref.: Milne 4750

In Greek mythology, Elpis (Ancient Greek: ἐλπίς) was the personification and spirit of hope (hope was usually seen as an extension to suffering by the Greek, not as a good), perhaps a child of Nyx and mother of Pheme, the goddess of fame, renown and rumor. She was depicted as a young woman, usually carrying flowers or cornucopia in her hands. 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 Roman equivalent was Spes.

[edit] Elpis as described in 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 or, in most stories, a box ^[1][2] containing^[3] "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men" (91–2), 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 (96–9), hope:

<poem> 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.</poem>

Hesiod does not say why hope (elpis) remained in the jar.^[4]

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

References [link]

• Verdenius, Willem Jacob, A Commentary on Hesiod Works and Days vv 1–382 (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1985). ISBN 90-04-07465-1. This work has a very in-depth discussion and synthesis of the various theories and speculations about the Pandora story and the jar. Cf. p. 62 and onwards.
• West, M. L. Hesiod, Theogony, ed. with prolegomena and commentary (Oxford 1966).
• West, M. L. Hesiod, Works and Days, ed. with prolegomena and commentary (Oxford 1978).

External links [link]

• Godchecker (Greek Mythology) - Elpis
• Elpis at theoi.com

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