In Greek mythology, what was Pandora traditionally called in relation to humanity?

In Greek mythology, Pandora was traditionally called the first woman.

Hesiod’s Theogony and Works and Days present Pandora as a divinely fashioned woman sent into the human world. Her creation follows Zeus’s punishment of Prometheus and humanity after Prometheus gave humans fire. In this story, Pandora is not simply an ordinary mortal: the gods contribute gifts, abilities, and adornments to her formation.

The phrase “first woman” belongs to the myth’s traditional framework, not to a historical or scientific account of human origins. Greek mythology contains several creation traditions, and Pandora’s story is specifically tied to the origin of suffering, labor, and other human hardships. Later interpretations have also treated the tale as a reflection of ancient Greek views about gender and marriage.

A common mix-up is to call Pandora a goddess. She is created by the gods but is generally described as a woman, not one of the Olympian deities. Her name is usually explained as “all-gifted” or “all-giving,” reflecting the divine contributions to her creation.