In Hesiod’s myth, Zeus ordered the gods to create Pandora as a punishment for humanity.
The story connects Pandora’s creation to the conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. Prometheus had helped humans by taking fire, and Zeus responded by devising a broader punishment for mortals. He instructed the gods to make a woman whose arrival would bring hardship to the human world.
Hesiod’s account describes a chain of divine contributions: Hephaestus shapes Pandora, while other gods provide qualities or adornments. Zeus then sends her to Epimetheus, who accepts her despite Prometheus’ warning. The opened vessel releases troubles, completing Zeus’s punishment.
Later versions often simplify the story into “Pandora opened a box.” The original narrative is more specific about divine planning and the connection to Prometheus’ theft of fire. Zeus is the authority who commands the creation, not the craftsman who physically forms Pandora.