“Open Pandora’s box”の意味や使い方は？～1923年2月16日、ツタンカーメン王の玄室が開かれた日～
英語には「Open Pandora’s box（オープン・パンドラズ・ボックス）」という有名なイディオムがある。直訳すると「パンドラの箱を開ける」だが、実際には「取り返しのつかない問題を引き起こす」「予期せぬ災いを招く」という意味だ▼この表現はギリシア神話に由来する。ゼウスは人類への罰として最初の女性パンドラを創り、決して開けてはならない箱を持たせた。しかし好奇心に勝てなかったパンドラが蓋を開けると、あらゆる災いが飛び出し、箱の底に残ったのは「希望」だけだった▼日本語の「藪をつついて蛇を出す」に近いが、「パンドラの箱」はより壮大で、一度始めたら収拾がつかない事態を暗示する。政治やビジネスでも頻繁に使われる表現だ▼このイディオムを連想させる歴史的出来事がある。1923年2月16日、イギリスの考古学者ハワード・カーターが、エジプト・王家の谷でツタンカーメン王の玄室の封印を解いた日だ。3000年以上眠り続けた若きファラオの墓には、黄金のマスクをはじめ5000点以上の副葬品が収められていた▼世紀の大発見は世界を熱狂させたが、同時に不吉な噂も広がった。資金提供者カーナヴォン卿が墓の開封から数週間後に謎の死を遂げたのだ。蚊の刺し傷が感染症を招いたとされるが、「ファラオの呪い」として世界中で報じられた。その後も関係者の不審死が続き、まさにパンドラの箱を開けたかのような騒動となった▼カーター自身は呪いを「ばかげた話」と一蹴し64歳まで生きた。科学的にはカビや細菌が原因とする説が有力だが、伝説は今も人々を魅了する。未知への好奇心とそれに伴うリスク。「パンドラの箱」は人間の探究心が持つ光と影を映し出すイディオムである。
【英語訳】
The True Meaning of “Open Pandora’s Box”: When Howard Carter Unsealed King Tut’s Burial Chamber
English has a well-known idiom: “Open Pandora’s box.” While its literal translation is “to open the box belonging to Pandora,” it actually means “to cause irreversible problems” or “to invite unforeseen disaster.”
This expression originates from Greek mythology. As punishment for humanity, Zeus created the first woman, Pandora, and gave her a box she was told never to open. However, overcome by curiosity, Pandora lifted the lid, and all manner of evils flew out into the world. The only thing that remained at the bottom of the box was “hope.”
In Japanese, there is a similar expression: “yabu wo tsutsuitte hebi wo dasu” (to poke a bush and drive out a snake). However, “Pandora’s box” operates on a grander scale, implying a situation that becomes uncontrollable once set in motion. It is frequently used in political and business contexts as well.
There is a historical event that perfectly evokes this idiom. On February 16, 1923, British archaeologist Howard Carter unsealed the burial chamber of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The tomb of the young pharaoh, which had lain undisturbed for over 3,000 years, contained more than 5,000 burial goods, including the famous golden mask.
The discovery of the century captivated the world, but ominous rumors also spread. Lord Carnarvon, the financial backer of the excavation, died mysteriously just weeks after the tomb was opened. While his death was attributed to an infection caused by a mosquito bite, it was reported worldwide as “the Curse of the Pharaoh.” As more members of the excavation team died under suspicious circumstances in the following years, the situation became exactly like opening Pandora’s box.
Carter himself dismissed the curse as “tommy rot” and lived to the age of 64. Scientifically, theories pointing to mold and bacteria as the likely cause are now widely accepted, yet the legend continues to fascinate people to this day. The curiosity to explore the unknown, and the risks that accompany it — “Pandora’s box” is an idiom that brilliantly captures both the light and shadow of human inquiry.
