As the fleet-footed god of speed and travel, Hermes is usually portrayed as a rambunctious, yet benevolent deity. The god of all types of wayfarers--herdsman, traders, thieves, travelers, musicians and athletes--he played pranks on his fellow gods as a teenager, and he was credited with inventing the lyre and the sport of wrestling.
History and Origins
Origins of Hermes
|
Popularity Amongst the Greeks
- Because of his immense popularity, Hermes is featured in many of Greek mythology's most memorable tales. At one point or another, he was credited with rescuing Odysseus from Circe, serving as a messenger to Prometheus, escorting Persephone back from Hades and informing Perseus of how to slay the gorgon Medusa.
Realm of Power
Mythology Surrounding Hermes
Hermes And the Theft of Apollo's Cattle
"[I. THE BIRTH OF HERMES.]
Maia, after her intercourse with Zeus, bore Hermes in a cave on Kyllene.
[II. HERMES STEALS APOLLO'S CATTLE.]
Though he was laid out in swaddling-clothes with her winnowing-basket for a cradle, he escaped and made his way to Pieria, where he stole some cattle that Apollon was tending. To keep from being discovered by the tracks, he put boots on their feet and led them to Pylos. He hid them in a grotto, except for two which he sacrificed, pinning up their hides on rocks, boiling some of the meat for his meal and burning the rest.
[III. HERMES INVENTS THE LYRE.]
Outside the cave he found a tortoise feeding. He cleaned it out, and stretched across the shell strings made from the cattle he had sacrificed, and when he had thus devised a lyre he also invented a plectrum.
[IV. HERMES TRADES THE LYRE FOR THE HERDS.]
Meanwhile Apollon reached Pylos in his search for the cattle, and asked the locals about them. They told him that they had indeed seen a boy driving some cattle, but they could not say where they had been driven because there were no tracks to be found. So Apollon learned who the thief was by divine science, and made his way to Maia on Kyllene to charge Hermes. Maia, however, showed Apollon the baby in his swaddling-clothes, whereupon Apollon took him to Zeus and demanded his cattle. When Zeus told Hermes to return them, he denied everything, but since his father would not believe him, he led Apollon to Pylos and gave him back his cattle. Then, when Apollon heard the lyre, he exchanged the cattle for that.
[V. HERMES TRADES THE PIPE FOR HERALDRY & RUSTIC DIVINITATION.]
And as Hermes was tending the cattle, this time he fashioned a shepherd's pipe which he proceeded to play. Covetous also of this, Apollon offered him the golden staff which he held when he herded cattle. But Hermes wanted both the staff and proficiency in the art of prophecy in return for the pipe. So he was taught how to prophesy by means of pebbles, and gave Apollon the pipe.
[VI. ZEUS CONFIRMS THE DIVINE PRIVILEGES OF HERMES.]
And Zeus made Hermes his personal herald and messenger of the gods beneath the earth."
-See Works Cited for the source of these myths.
Maia, after her intercourse with Zeus, bore Hermes in a cave on Kyllene.
[II. HERMES STEALS APOLLO'S CATTLE.]
Though he was laid out in swaddling-clothes with her winnowing-basket for a cradle, he escaped and made his way to Pieria, where he stole some cattle that Apollon was tending. To keep from being discovered by the tracks, he put boots on their feet and led them to Pylos. He hid them in a grotto, except for two which he sacrificed, pinning up their hides on rocks, boiling some of the meat for his meal and burning the rest.
[III. HERMES INVENTS THE LYRE.]
Outside the cave he found a tortoise feeding. He cleaned it out, and stretched across the shell strings made from the cattle he had sacrificed, and when he had thus devised a lyre he also invented a plectrum.
[IV. HERMES TRADES THE LYRE FOR THE HERDS.]
Meanwhile Apollon reached Pylos in his search for the cattle, and asked the locals about them. They told him that they had indeed seen a boy driving some cattle, but they could not say where they had been driven because there were no tracks to be found. So Apollon learned who the thief was by divine science, and made his way to Maia on Kyllene to charge Hermes. Maia, however, showed Apollon the baby in his swaddling-clothes, whereupon Apollon took him to Zeus and demanded his cattle. When Zeus told Hermes to return them, he denied everything, but since his father would not believe him, he led Apollon to Pylos and gave him back his cattle. Then, when Apollon heard the lyre, he exchanged the cattle for that.
[V. HERMES TRADES THE PIPE FOR HERALDRY & RUSTIC DIVINITATION.]
And as Hermes was tending the cattle, this time he fashioned a shepherd's pipe which he proceeded to play. Covetous also of this, Apollon offered him the golden staff which he held when he herded cattle. But Hermes wanted both the staff and proficiency in the art of prophecy in return for the pipe. So he was taught how to prophesy by means of pebbles, and gave Apollon the pipe.
[VI. ZEUS CONFIRMS THE DIVINE PRIVILEGES OF HERMES.]
And Zeus made Hermes his personal herald and messenger of the gods beneath the earth."
-See Works Cited for the source of these myths.