In Greek mythology, Hermes gave Pandora a misleading or deceptive tongue. This gift is part of Hesiod’s portrayal of Pandora as a figure assembled from qualities supplied by different gods.
Hermes was the Olympian messenger and a god associated with communication, cleverness, trade, and trickery. His contribution to Pandora’s character is therefore connected with persuasive speech and deceptive behavior. The myth’s wording is often translated in different ways, including references to lies, shamelessness, or a deceitful nature.
This detail is separate from Hermes’s role as the god who escorts Pandora to Epimetheus in some versions and translations. The same god can therefore appear both as a contributor to her attributes and as an agent in delivering her to humanity.
Modern retellings frequently leave out the individual divine gifts. Hesiod’s account instead presents Pandora as a carefully constructed figure whose beauty, skills, speech, and ornaments all serve Zeus’s larger plan.