In Greek mythology, Hermes gives Pandora a deceptive mind and crafty speech.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes several gods contributing qualities to Pandora. Hermes, acting on Zeus’s instructions, places a deceptive or deceitful mind and a crafty tongue within her. This role fits Hermes’ broader mythological associations with messages, persuasion, cleverness, and trickery.
Pandora is not simply an independent villain in the original story. She is constructed and equipped by the gods, then sent to Epimetheus as part of Zeus’s response to Prometheus’ theft of fire. The poem therefore frames the episode as divine punishment rather than as a purely personal act of curiosity.
Modern retellings often make Pandora’s curiosity the central cause of the disaster, but Hesiod’s text emphasizes the divine design behind her creation. Other gods provide her clothing, ornaments, and abilities, so identifying Hermes requires distinguishing his specific contribution from those of Athena, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus.