In Greek mythology, what quality did Hermes give Pandora besides a deceptive character?

In Greek mythology, Hermes gave Pandora a shameless mind as well as a deceptive character.

Hesiod’s Works and Days presents Pandora as a carefully assembled divine punishment. After Hephaestus fashions her, several gods contribute qualities. Hermes gives her a mind described in Greek as shameless or impudent and a deceptive character. The wording differs among translations, so readers may encounter “crafty,” “guileful,” or related English terms.

This passage is distinct from the separate tradition that Hermes gave Pandora speech. The existing tradition specifically connects Hermes with communication and deceit, but translations and retellings often combine nearby details. That is why the exact phrase can vary while the underlying role remains recognizable.

Pandora’s attributes are deliberately ambivalent: she possesses beauty and social skills, yet her creation serves Zeus’s punitive plan. Hesiod’s account reflects ancient anxieties about deception, labor, marriage, and the origins of hardship rather than a modern character biography.