In Hesiod’s myth, Hephaestus formed Pandora’s body from clay.
After Zeus decided to punish humanity, he ordered the divine craftsman Hephaestus to make a woman. Hesiod describes the figure as being shaped from earth, with the gods then granting her different gifts and abilities.
The clay detail connects Pandora with ancient creation traditions in which a deity fashions humans from earth or mud. It also helps distinguish the myth from later paintings and retellings that may depict Pandora as appearing fully formed or being born from a container.
Pandora’s name means “all-gifted” or “all-giving,” reflecting the gifts supplied by multiple gods. The making of her body by Hephaestus is separate from the later actions of gods who gave her speech, crafts, clothing, or other attributes.