In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus. According to Hesiods Theogony, after humans received the stolen gift of fire from Prometheus, Zeus decided to give humanity a punishing gift to compensate for the boon they had been given. He commanded Hephaestus to mold from earth the first woman, a "beautiful evil" whose descendants would torment the human race. The name Pandora means "all-gifted" or "all-giving".

Pandora was also an unrelated earth goddess in the early Greek pantheon. The creation of Pandora was often depicted in ancient Greek vase painting. She appears as either a statue-like figure surrounded by gods, or as a woman rising out of the earth.

Before her departure, Pandora was given a range of divine gifts by each of the Olympian gods. Athena taught her all the fine crafts and dressed her in silvery robes, Aphrodite gave her grace and the means to create burning desire, and Hermes gave her "a dogs mind and a thievish character" and in her breast "set lies and guileful words". Zeus gave her a box, which she was warned never to open. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the box, releasing all the evils of the world, such as sorrow, disease, vice, violence, greed, madness, old age, and death.

In summary, Pandora was the first woman created by Hephaestus on the instructions of Zeus in Greek mythology. She was given many divine gifts by each of the Olympian gods, including a box that she was warned never to open. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened the box, releasing all the evils of the world.