Which ancient Greek god gave Pandora her clothing in Hesiod’s creation story?

The story behind the answer

Athena gave Pandora her clothing in Hesiod’s creation story.

In Works and Days, the gods contribute different gifts when Pandora is fashioned. Athena, the Olympian goddess associated with wisdom, crafts, and warfare, dresses Pandora and teaches her practical skills. This detail is part of the poem’s description of Pandora as a divinely constructed woman whose qualities come from several gods.

Other deities contribute different features. Hephaestus fashions her body from earth at Zeus’s command, while Hermes gives her a deceptive or unreliable mind and manner. Aphrodite supplies beauty and desire, and the Graces and other divine figures add adornments. Exact translations vary because the ancient Greek wording is compressed and poetic.

The myth therefore does not assign Pandora’s entire creation to one deity. Athena’s role is specifically associated with clothing and craft-related preparation, while Hephaestus is the divine smith responsible for shaping her physical form.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Oct. 2026

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