In ancient Greek mythology, Zeus ordered the creation of Pandora.
In Hesiod’s account, Zeus acts after Prometheus’s conflict with him over humanity and fire. He commands the gods to create Pandora as part of a punishment directed at humans. The gods give her different qualities and skills, and Zeus then sends her into the human world with a sealed container.
This makes Zeus the instigator of Pandora’s arrival, but not the sole maker of her body or character. Hesiod presents a collaborative divine creation: Hephaestus shapes her, while other gods contribute gifts. The name Pandora is commonly understood as “all-gifted” or “gifted by all,” reflecting that collective process.
Later retellings often turn the story into a simple tale about a curious woman and a box. The ancient version is more closely connected to Zeus’s punishment, the rivalry involving Prometheus, and explanations of why suffering exists among humans.