In Greek mythology, Hephaestus created Pandora from clay according to the common retelling.
Hesiod’s Works and Days presents Pandora’s creation as a command from Zeus. Hephaestus, the divine craftsman and god of fire and metalworking, shaped her from earth. Other gods then contributed qualities or gifts, producing the name Pandora, commonly explained as “all-gifted” or “all-giving.”
The myth connects Pandora’s creation with Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire for mortals. Athena taught Pandora crafts, while other deities supplied attributes in the poem’s account. The details differ among ancient sources, but Hephaestus is the maker associated with the clay figure in the best-known version.
Pandora is sometimes incorrectly described as a goddess. In Hesiod’s story, she is a mortal woman created by the gods. Her role also differs from the later idea of an innocent person who accidentally causes trouble: the ancient narrative presents her creation as part of Zeus’s deliberate plan.