In the myth of Pandora, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create the first woman. Hephaestus, the divine smith and craftsman, shaped Pandora as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity.
The order follows Prometheus’s theft of fire for mortals. Zeus wants a countermeasure that will bring suffering to humans, so he commands the gods to construct a beautiful woman and give her qualities that make her compelling. Hephaestus forms her, while other deities add clothing, beauty, skill, charm, and deceptive speech.
The myth is sometimes described as saying Pandora was made from clay, but that wording is not the central detail in Hesiod’s account. The important roles are that Zeus initiates the plan and Hephaestus performs the craftsmanship. Pandora is then sent to Epimetheus, who accepts her despite Prometheus’s warning.