In Greek mythology, which god created Pandora’s body from clay?

In Greek mythology, Hephaestus created Pandora’s body from clay.

Hesiod describes Zeus ordering Hephaestus, the divine smith, to shape a beautiful woman from earth. Other gods then contribute qualities or gifts, giving Pandora the name associated with being “all-gifted.” This creation story connects the myth to Greek ideas about craftsmanship, divine power, and the origins of humanity’s troubles.

Hephaestus is the Olympian god of fire, metalworking, and craftsmanship. His role is especially appropriate because the creation of Pandora is presented as an artificial, skillful act rather than a natural birth.

Later artwork often shows Pandora emerging from the earth or being presented to the gods. These images can make the story look like a simple creation myth, but Hesiod’s version is also a theological explanation for why suffering entered human life after Prometheus gave people fire.