In Greek mythology, Hephaestus was ordered by Zeus to make Pandora’s body from clay.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora as a created woman rather than a naturally born figure. Zeus commands Hephaestus, the divine smith and craftsman, to shape her from earth. Other gods then contribute qualities, clothing, skills, and gifts, producing the figure whose name is commonly interpreted as “all-gifted.”
This detail is sometimes confused with the later story of Prometheus shaping humans from clay. Prometheus is associated with creating or helping humanity in several traditions, but Pandora’s construction in Hesiod’s account is assigned to Hephaestus. Athena then teaches Pandora women’s crafts, while Hermes gives her speech and a deceptive character.
The creation scene establishes Pandora as part of Zeus’s punishment for humanity after Prometheus’s theft of fire. The jar episode comes later, when Pandora is sent to Epimetheus.