In Greek mythology, Hephaestus fashioned Pandora from clay.
Hesiod’s Theogony describes Zeus ordering Hephaestus to make Pandora’s form from earth. Modern summaries commonly render this material as clay, emphasizing the image of a human figure shaped by a divine craftsman. Hephaestus then receives help from other gods, who provide qualities, clothing, and abilities.
This detail links Pandora to a wider ancient pattern in which a deity forms a human from earth before other divine forces animate or equip the figure. It also gives the story a crafted origin rather than presenting Pandora as born through an ordinary family line.
Pandora’s material is sometimes confused with metal because Hephaestus is the god of fire and metalworking. His role as craftsman does not mean Pandora was made of bronze or forged in a smithy; the traditional material is earth or clay.