In Greek mythology, Hephaestus fashioned Pandora from clay on Zeus’s orders.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora as an artificial woman created by the gods after Zeus decided to punish humanity. Hephaestus shaped her from earth, while other gods gave her distinctive gifts and abilities. Her name is commonly interpreted as “all-gifted” or “all-giving.”
The myth connects Pandora’s creation with the punishment of Prometheus, who had stolen fire for humans. Hesiod presents Pandora not as an ordinary mortal but as a divinely made figure whose arrival changes the human condition. Artistic retellings often show several gods contributing to her appearance, clothing, speech, or charm, but Hephaestus is the god specifically associated with forming her body.