In Hesiod’s account of Pandora, Hermes gave her a voice and deceptive words.
Works and Days lists Hermes among the gods involved in preparing Pandora. Hesiod connects him with putting a voice in her and giving her a “shameless mind” and a deceitful character. The passage is part of the poem’s strongly negative explanation of how evils entered human life.
Hermes is the messenger of the gods and is associated with communication, travel, commerce, and clever deception. His contribution fits those broader mythological roles, although the Pandora episode presents the gift as harmful rather than helpful.
This detail belongs to Hesiod’s version and should not be confused with later artistic or literary retellings, which often expand the gifts or change their moral emphasis. The jar itself is also frequently misidentified as a box.