In Hesiod’s Works and Days, what is Pandora described as being made from?

In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Pandora is described as being made from earth and water.

The passage presents her creation as a command from Zeus after Prometheus gave fire to humanity. Hephaestus is instructed to shape a likeness of a modest maiden, and the figure is formed from earth. The text also associates the creation with water, giving the origin a crafted, elemental quality.

This detail is part of Hesiod’s distinctive version of the myth. Pandora is not simply born like a goddess; she is fashioned through divine workmanship and then equipped with gifts from several gods. Her name is traditionally explained as “all-gifted,” reflecting the gifts bestowed on her by the Olympians.

Later retellings often focus on the container and omit the creation scene. They may also describe Pandora as a goddess, but Hesiod presents her as a mortal woman created by the gods and introduced into the human world.