Zeus sent Pandora to humanity as part of his punishment in Hesiod’s myth.
In Works and Days, Zeus orders the creation of Pandora after Prometheus gives fire to humans. The punishment is directed at humanity because Zeus is angered by the theft of fire and by Prometheus’s deception involving sacrificial portions. Pandora is fashioned and equipped with gifts from the gods before being presented to Epimetheus.
The myth describes Pandora’s arrival as bringing a new source of suffering to humans. When she opens the sealed vessel, troubles escape into the world, while Elpis remains inside. Hesiod’s account therefore connects the jar episode to a broader story about divine power, fire, labor, and the origins of human hardship.
Prometheus is often mistakenly named as Pandora’s sender because he is central to the surrounding myth. However, Prometheus opposes Zeus and warns his brother Epimetheus not to accept gifts from the gods. Zeus is the deity who commands Pandora’s creation and dispatch.