In Greek mythology’s Pandora story, Zeus ordered the jar to be given to Pandora.
Hesiod presents Pandora as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus stole fire for humans. Zeus instructed the gods to create Pandora and sent her to Prometheus’s brother Epimetheus, carrying the container that later became famous as Pandora’s box.
The myth is often retold as though Pandora independently found a mysterious box, but Hesiod’s original account describes a large storage jar. The familiar “box” wording comes from later translation history, especially the influence of the Latin word pyxis.
Zeus is sometimes confused with Hephaestus because Hephaestus helped create Pandora, while Hermes delivered her and gave her certain qualities. Zeus, however, is the deity directing the punishment and the gift’s delivery.