Hephaestus is credited with forming Pandora’s body in Hesiod’s account.
Hephaestus, the Greek god associated with metalworking, fire, and craftsmanship, shapes Pandora from earth at Zeus’s command. Other gods then contribute attributes or gifts, creating a figure whose appearance and abilities help fulfill Zeus’s plan.
This detail distinguishes Hephaestus’s role from that of the other gods. Hermes, for example, is associated with giving Pandora speech and a deceptive character in some translations, while Aphrodite contributes beauty. The exact wording varies between translations of Hesiod.
The episode also resembles the broader Greek idea that divine craftsmen can construct living or animated beings. Pandora’s formation from earth is sometimes compared with later creation stories, but the myth’s immediate purpose is specifically tied to Zeus’s punishment of Prometheus and humanity.