In Hesiod’s account, Pandora is described as the first woman among humankind. Her creation forms part of Zeus’s response to Prometheus’s theft of fire and is presented as a punishment directed at humans.
The story appears most fully in Hesiod’s Works and Days. Hesiod also refers to Pandora in the Theogony, but the Works and Days provides the longer narrative about her creation, divine gifts, and the vessel associated with released troubles.
Calling Pandora the first woman belongs specifically to this Greek mythic tradition. It is not a claim shared by every ancient culture or every Greek writer. Later authors, artists, and modern adaptations frequently alter her role, motivations, or relationship to other figures.
Another common confusion is treating Pandora as a goddess because she is made by gods and receives divine gifts. In Hesiod, she is a mortal woman created for the human world, although her origin and preparation are supernatural. Her name and story became central to later ideas about curiosity, blame, and unintended consequences.