In the Pandora myth, Hephaestus physically shapes the first woman from earth.
Hephaestus is the smith and craftsman of the Olympian gods. Acting on Zeus’s command, he forms Pandora from earth, giving the story a deliberate contrast with Prometheus, who is associated in other myths with making or aiding humanity. Pandora’s construction is presented as divine workmanship rather than natural birth.
After Hephaestus makes the figure, other gods furnish her with clothing, adornment, speech, and alluring qualities. This division of labor explains why Pandora’s name refers to the gifts supplied by many gods.
The story is often confused with later traditions in which Pandora is simply called the first woman. Hesiod’s account is more elaborate: it emphasizes her manufacture, the gods’ contributions, and Zeus’s purpose in sending her to humanity.