In Greek mythology, Pandora is fashioned from clay. Hesiod says that Hephaestus, the divine smith, shapes her form from earth and water before the other gods add their gifts.
The clay detail places Pandora within a broader Greek tradition in which humans are formed from earth. It also creates a parallel with stories from other cultures that describe humanity as molded from soil, clay, or dust. In Pandora’s story, however, the creation is specifically part of Zeus’s response to Prometheus’s theft of fire.
Modern retellings sometimes say that Hephaestus makes Pandora from “earth,” while others use “clay.” These descriptions are compatible in context: the myth presents a moldable earth-based substance, not metal or stone. The exact English wording depends on the translation of Hesiod’s Greek.
After her body is made, Pandora receives clothing, ornaments, skills, and other qualities from the gods. Her name, meaning “all-gifted,” refers to this collection of divine contributions.