In Hesiod’s Greek mythology, Hephaestus fashioned Pandora’s human body from clay. Zeus instructed the craftsman god to create her as part of a punishment aimed at humanity after Prometheus stole fire.
Hephaestus is the Greek god of fire, metalworking, smithing, and craftsmanship. His role in making Pandora fits his broader mythological identity as the divine artisan who constructs objects, weapons, armor, and occasionally living forms for the gods.
Pandora’s creation is collaborative rather than the work of Hephaestus alone. Hesiod describes other gods as contributing gifts, including adornment, skills, and persuasive qualities. The result is a figure assembled through divine craftsmanship and divine bestowal.
A common mix-up is to attribute Pandora’s creation to Prometheus because Prometheus is associated with shaping or helping humanity in other traditions. In Hesiod’s Pandora story, Hephaestus is the named craftsman who forms her, while Zeus directs the larger plan and the other gods provide attributes.