In Hesiod’s Works and Days, Hermes gave Pandora a deceptive tongue and a crafty mind.
Hermes is the messenger of the Greek gods and is also associated with cunning, boundaries, trade, and trickery. His contribution fits the story’s portrayal of Pandora as persuasive and dangerous. She is not merely beautiful: the gods equip her with qualities that make her a convincing divine gift.
Hesiod’s creation sequence assigns different attributes to different deities. Hephaestus shapes Pandora from earth, Athena gives clothing and craft, Aphrodite adds beauty and desire, and Hermes supplies deceptive speech and a clever, unreliable character. These roles form a coordinated explanation of her effect on humanity.
The detail is sometimes simplified into the claim that Hermes “invented lies.” Hesiod’s wording is more specific: Hermes gives Pandora a deceptive voice or character and a crafty mind. That distinction separates his role from the physical creation performed by Hephaestus.