In Hesiod’s account, Hermes gives Pandora a deceptive mind and a treacherous character.
Pandora is not created by one god alone. Hesiod describes a coordinated act ordered by Zeus, with different gods contributing physical beauty, clothing, adornment, speech, and personality. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, is assigned the mental qualities that make Pandora capable of deception and dissimulation.
This detail is easy to confuse with other parts of the story. Hephaestus fashions Pandora’s body from earth, while Athena clothes and adorns her. Aphrodite contributes charm and desire. Hermes’ contribution is specifically connected with speech, a deceptive nature, and a mind suited to Zeus’s plan.
The portrayal reflects the poem’s strongly gendered ancient Greek worldview and should not be treated as a modern psychological description. Later retellings often simplify the scene, leaving out the individual divine contributions that make Hesiod’s version distinctive.