In Greek mythology, who created Pandora as a woman from clay?

In Greek mythology, Hephaestus created Pandora as a woman from clay. Hesiod’s account in Works and Days describes Zeus ordering the divine craftsman to form Pandora from earth, giving her a human shape.

The gods then endowed her with gifts, which is reflected in the meaning commonly associated with her name: “all-gifted.” Different gods supplied qualities or possessions, including clothing, adornment, speech, and persuasive charm. The story presents Pandora as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire.

Some retellings call Pandora the first woman, but the earliest surviving versions differ in emphasis and detail. The familiar English expression “Pandora’s box” also simplifies the original story, which referred to a large storage jar rather than a box. Hephaestus is also known as the Greek god of fire and metalworking, making him the myth’s logical divine craftsman.