Pandora was the first human woman created by the Greek gods, specifically by Hephaestus and Athena on the instructions of Zeus. Each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts. Athena taught her needlework and weaving; Aphrodite "shed grace upon her head and cruel longing and cares that weary the limbs", Hermes gave her a shameful mind and deceitful nature and he also gave her the power of speech, putting in her "lies and crafty words".
Athena then clothed her followed with Persuasion and the Charites adorning her with necklaces and other finery. The Horae adorned her with a garland crown. Finally, Hermes gives this woman a name: Pandora – "All-gifted" – "because all the Olympians gave her a gift. Zeus ordered Hephaestus to mold her out of earth as part of the punishment of humanity for Prometheus' theft of the secret of fire, and all the gods joined in offering her "seductive gifts".
Pandora's deceitful feminine nature becomes the least of humanity's worries. For she brings with her a box containing "burdensome toil and sickness that brings death to men", diseases, and "a myriad other pains". Prometheus, fearing further reprisals, had warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus. But Epimetheus did not listen; he accepted Pandora, who promptly scattered the contents of her box. As a result, it is said that the earth and sea are full of evils". One item, however, did not escape the jar, which is Hope.
The opening of the jar serves as the beginning of the Silver Age, in which man is now subject to death, and with the introduction of woman to birth as well, giving rise to the cycle of death and rebirth. Pandora's creation was also brought on by Prometheus, when he stole Fire from Mt. Olympus and gave it to mortal man, and then it resulted in Zeus punishing the technologically advanced society by creating woman.
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