In Hesiod’s Pandora myth, Hephaestus crafted Pandora’s physical form from clay. Zeus commands the divine smith to create a woman as part of the punishment devised for humanity after Prometheus stole fire.
Hephaestus was the Greek god associated with metalworking, fire, craftsmanship, and invention. His role in making Pandora fits his traditional identity as the Olympian artisan. After he forms her, other gods add qualities, clothing, ornaments, and abilities.
This detail is sometimes confused with the later idea that Pandora was created entirely by one deity. Hesiod’s account is collaborative: Hephaestus makes the body, while other gods contribute gifts. The story therefore combines craftsmanship and divine presentation, helping explain Pandora’s name and her extraordinary status as the first woman in the myth.