In Greek mythology, which messenger god gave Pandora her name?

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In Greek mythology, Hermes gave Pandora her name.

Hesiod's Works and Days assigns several divine contributions to Pandora's creation. Hermes, the messenger god, gives her a name and a deceptive mind or character in the poem's account. The name Pandora is commonly interpreted through the Greek words pan, “all,” and doron, “gift.”

Hermes is not the god who shapes Pandora; that role belongs to Hephaestus. Nor is Hermes the person who opens the jar. His contribution comes during the preparation of Pandora before Zeus sends her to Epimetheus. This division of roles is easy to blur in modern retellings, which often compress the gods' individual gifts into a single creation scene.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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