In Greek mythology, Hermes gave Pandora her name and taught her speech.
Hesiod describes Pandora as a figure assembled through the contributions of several gods. Hephaestus shaped her from earth, while other deities supplied gifts or qualities. Hermes, the messenger god, gave her speech and named her Pandora, a name traditionally understood as “all-gifted.”
This detail is easy to miss because modern retellings usually focus on the container and the release of evils. The myth is not originally a story about a wooden box: Hesiod’s Greek wording refers to a large storage jar, often called a pithos. The “box” became standard in later European transmission.
Hermes’s role also distinguishes him from Hephaestus. Hephaestus creates Pandora’s physical form, while Hermes contributes language and identity. The myth therefore presents Pandora as a constructed figure whose attributes come from multiple Olympian gods.