In Greek mythology, Hermes delivers Pandora from the gods to humanity.
In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Zeus orders Hermes to take Pandora to Epimetheus, Prometheus’s brother. The delivery completes Zeus’s punishment after Prometheus has stolen fire and given it to humans.
Hermes is a fitting agent for this task because he serves as the messenger and intermediary of the Olympian gods. His involvement also connects with the qualities he gives Pandora, including speech and a deceptive mind. Pandora is therefore both a divine creation and a carefully presented gift to the mortal world.
This episode is sometimes confused with Pandora’s later action involving the container. Hesiod does not make Hermes the one who opens it. The myth says that Pandora herself removes the lid, releasing the troubles inside. Modern illustrations may show several gods surrounding the scene, but the messenger responsible for bringing her to humanity is Hermes.