In Greek mythology, Zeus sent Pandora to humanity as a punishment for Prometheus’s theft of fire.
Hesiod connects Pandora’s creation with the conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. Prometheus had deceived Zeus in the division of an ox and later stole fire for humans. Zeus responded by withholding fire and then arranging the creation of Pandora as a further punishment for humanity.
The myth is not a single uniform narrative in every ancient source. Hesiod’s Theogony emphasizes the divine creation of woman, while Works and Days develops the consequences for human life and introduces the jar episode. Later authors and modern adaptations often combine details from both poems.
Zeus is the ruling Olympian god in this story, so his command initiates the plan even though several other deities contribute to Pandora’s appearance and abilities. This is why Pandora’s arrival is usually described as a divine punishment rather than an accidental event.