Hermes gives Pandora the power of speech in Hesiod’s myth.
Hesiod’s Works and Days describes Pandora as receiving contributions from several gods. Hermes, the divine messenger and herald, gives her a voice and language-related qualities. The poem also associates him with a deceptive or doglike mind, reinforcing the story’s portrayal of Pandora as a dangerous gift sent by Zeus.
This role fits Hermes’s broader mythological identity. He is connected with communication, messages, boundaries, trade, travel, and cunning. His contribution is therefore different from Hephaestus’s physical craftsmanship or Athena’s instruction in textile work.
Translations vary in how they phrase Hermes’s gift. Some say he gives Pandora speech, while others emphasize words, a voice, or a deceitful character. The underlying attribution remains Hermes. Pandora’s many divine gifts explain her name and show that the myth is about a constructed figure assembled from multiple powers rather than a character created by one god alone.