In Hesiod’s story of Pandora’s jar, Hermes gives Pandora her deceptive nature.
Hesiod describes Pandora as a divine creation assembled by several gods. Hephaestus fashions her from earth at Zeus’s command, while Athena teaches her crafts and Aphrodite grants beauty and desire. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, gives her a shameless mind and a deceitful character.
This detail matters because Pandora’s myth is not simply a story about curiosity. Hesiod presents her creation as part of Zeus’s punishment of humanity after Prometheus steals fire for mortals. Pandora’s appealing appearance and persuasive qualities make Zeus’s gift difficult to resist.
Later retellings often simplify the story, sometimes assigning every gift to a single creator or portraying Pandora as deliberately evil. Hesiod’s version is more layered: the gods give her both attractive abilities and traits connected with deception, making her a powerful instrument in Zeus’s plan.