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The American attack on Iran during the weekend has raised concerns that it will have unforseen consequenses in the future.
The American attack on Iran during the weekend has raised concerns that it will have unforseen consequenses in the future.
What is happening?
During the weekend, the US launched Operation Midnight Hammer, hitting multiple targets in Iran.
The targets
The operation targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities, in an attack lasting only 25 minutes.
According to US President, Donald Trump, the operation was a spectacular military succes, stating that Iran’s facilities for nuclear enrichment was “completely destroyed”.
Protests spring up across the US
When the news of the operation broke, anti-war protests sprung up in mutliple citis across the US.
But when talking to Americans on the street, it’s clear that the population is divided.
“We have opened Pandora’s Box”
Speaking to AP, one of the protesters in New York, Dana Cote, drew comparisons to the 9/11-attack, which he experienced first hand being in New York when it happened.
“I was here during 9/11 and to think that you can bomb Iran without lighting a spark in extremists all around the World – we have opened Pandora’s Box, and we can’t close it again,” Cote said.
You know the saying, but do you know the myth?
Pandora’s Box is a well-known phrase used to describe an action that could possibly have dire consequences in the future, maybe even unknown.
But the phrase is originally from Greek mythology, and it’s safe to say that not a lot of people actually know the whole story.
So prepare to be educated so you can outsmart your co-workers and friends!
First woman on Earth
According to Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on Earth, crafted by the gods as part of a divine plan.
Zeus ordered her creation as a form of punishment for mankind after Prometheus stole fire from the heavens.
Crafted by Divine Hands
Each Olympian god contributed something to Pandora.
Aphrodite gave her beauty, Hermes offered cunning, and Athena blessed her with grace and skill.
Her name, “Pandora,” means “all-gifted.”
The Mysterious Jar, Not a Box
The term “Pandora’s Box” is actually a mistranslation.
The original Greek text referred to a “pithos”—a large storage jar.
Over time, the jar became known as a box in Western retellings.
Forbidden Curiosity
Pandora was given the jar and instructed never to open it.
But curiosity got the better of her, and one day, unable to resist, she lifted the lid.
Releasing the World’s Evils
The moment the jar opened, all the evils of the world—pain, sickness, greed, envy, and more—escaped and spread across the earth, transforming it from a paradise into a place of suffering.
Hope Remained Inside
As Pandora slammed the lid shut in panic, one thing remained trapped inside: Elpis, often interpreted as “Hope.”
This small but significant detail has fueled centuries of philosophical debate.
A Myth with Moral Weight
Pandora’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of disobedience and unchecked curiosity.
It also touches on themes of blame, punishment, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Gender and Blame
The myth reflects ancient Greek views on women, often portraying Pandora as the source of mankind’s woes—an echo of similar myths in other cultures that tie the fall of man to a woman’s actions.
Symbolism Across Centuries
“Opening Pandora’s Box” has become a global metaphor for triggering uncontrollable consequences from a seemingly small or innocent action.
So back to the real world …
When the attack on Iran was still rumors during the past week, Iran threatened the US, saying that an attack would have great consequences.
Hormuz Strait closing?
One of the possible reactions, Iran could do, is to block the Hormuz Strait, an important sea passage, vital to global oil trade.
Analysts warn that a blockade could have dire consequences for the West and create an economic crisis due to a shortage of oil and natural gas.