In Greek mythology’s Pandora story, Zeus ordered Pandora’s creation. He did so after Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity, treating Pandora as part of a punishment directed at both humans and Prometheus.
Hesiod’s account describes Zeus instructing Hephaestus to make Pandora from earth. Other gods then gave her qualities or possessions, including clothing, adornment, and skills. Hermes contributed deceptive speech and a difficult temperament in the story’s strongly patriarchal moral framework.
Pandora’s name is usually interpreted as “all-gifted,” because the gods collectively supplied her attributes. Some ancient interpretations connect the name with “all-giving,” but the “all-gifted” explanation is the standard modern gloss.
Zeus is sometimes mistaken for the person who physically made Pandora. That role belongs to Hephaestus. Zeus is the divine authority who commands the creation and sends Pandora to Epimetheus as part of the aftermath of the fire theft.