 
Greek Mythology
Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology. The "box" was actually a large jar (πιθος pithos) given to Pandora (Πανδώρα) ("all-gifted"), which contained all the evils of the world. When Pandora opened the jar, the entire contents of the jar were released, but for one – hope. She opened this jar, unleashing all the evils of the universe. She closed the lid on the urn just before hope could escape out of reach. Later she reopened the urn letting hope out. Today, opening Pandora's box means to create evil that cannot be undone.
The Box was created by Hephaestus under the command of Zeus to contain the evils created by the Titanomachy. But no simple metal could contain such evils. Hephaestus forged the box out of a power greater than that of the Gods: the Flame of Olympus. The Flame, as lethal as it was beautiful, would kill all who dared touch it, therefore being the perfect safeguard for the Box. The key to pacifying the Flame was a child Hephaestus created from the flame itself -- Pandora. Knowing that Zeus would take Pandora from him, Hephaestus tricked Zeus into believing that placing the box on the back of the Titan Cronos would be the safest place, thus hereby saving Pandora, but condemning Cronos to a life of agony.
The brilliant architect, Pathos Verdes III, was assigned to build a temple to house the Box, ensuring that none would be able to reach it. Over time, he descended into madness, and the temple's puzzles grew more vicious and complex accordingly. He would eventually commit suicide, leaving the temple somewhat unfinished.
Although many would-be heroes and treasure seekers fell to the traps of Pandora's Temple seeking the Box, only Kratos would claim the powerful artifact in order to destroy Ares. As he found it, however, it was immediately stolen by Drows as Vath himself almost slew Joshua. The Chaoslord then raised the box to the heavens, threatening to unleash it on Olympus itself.
However, Joshua & the gang members joined him returned from Hell and reclaimed the Box from Vath. But on the game God of war, long last, he opened it and drew from its power, allowing him to meet Ares in battle and eventually destroy him (but that's from of God of War). That would seemingly be the end of the role Pandora's Box, but this would not be so.