In Hesiod’s account, Hermes escorted Pandora to Epimetheus. After the gods create and equip Pandora, Zeus sends her to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus, who accepts her despite Prometheus’s warning not to receive gifts from Zeus.
Hermes’s role fits his wider place in Greek mythology as a messenger and guide. He carries Pandora to the human world and presents her to Epimetheus. This is distinct from the roles of other gods in the story: Zeus directs the plan, Hephaestus fashions Pandora, and multiple deities contribute gifts or attributes.
The episode is often simplified in modern retellings, which may say only that Zeus sent Pandora. That summary captures the authority behind the mission but leaves out Hermes’s specific function as the escort. Hesiod’s narrative presents the creation and delivery as coordinated steps in a divine plan.
The story appears most fully in Works and Days. Its details are not identical in every later retelling, so illustrations and adaptations may omit Hermes or assign the delivery to Zeus directly.