In Greek mythology, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to fashion Pandora from clay.
Hesiod’s account makes Pandora part of Zeus’s response to Prometheus. After Prometheus deceived Zeus and stole fire for humanity, Zeus devised a punishment that would affect humans as well as the rebellious Titan. He instructed Hephaestus, the divine smith, to create a woman from earth or clay.
Other gods then contributed qualities or gifts to Pandora. Athena taught her crafts, Aphrodite gave her grace, and Hermes supplied a deceptive or persuasive character in Hesiod’s description. Her name is commonly interpreted as “all-gifted,” reflecting the gifts bestowed by the gods.
This detail is often blurred in modern artwork, where Pandora is shown as if she emerged fully formed from a box. In the literary myth, however, her creation precedes the opening of the container, and Hephaestus is specifically the craftsman who shapes her. Zeus is the god directing the entire plan.