In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Hephaestus created Pandora’s physical form from earth.
Hephaestus, the divine smith and craftsman, is instructed by Zeus to shape Pandora from earth. Other gods then contribute qualities and adornments, including clothing, beauty, and persuasive abilities. The creation is therefore presented as a collaborative divine production under Zeus’s direction.
This detail helps distinguish Pandora’s myth from later portrayals that treat her as an ordinary human woman. In Hesiod, she is fashioned by gods and given a role in a divine punishment directed at humanity.
The earth-made origin also recalls broader ancient Greek ideas about humans being formed from earthly material. While later retellings often emphasize curiosity, Hesiod’s account spends significant attention on Pandora’s construction and the gifts that explain her name.