The God Hermes in Greek Mythology

Hermes is one of the most well known gods from the pantheon of Greek mythology. Given the role of messenger of the gods, Hermes would subsequently appear in many stories of gods and mortals. Generally considered to be one of the more lenient and “good” gods, and as such he is rarely portrayed with having the vengefulness of others within the Greek pantheon.

Hermes is a god of many accolades; trickster, thief, and guide being just a few. Hermes is also the god of travellers and boundaries, shepherds and cowherds, literature, athletics, invention, weights and measures, commerce, and of thieves and liars.

Hermes - Peter Paul Rubens - PD-art-100

Hermes was the son of Zeus, who partnered Maia, a mountain nymph, and a daughter of the Titan Atlas. Zeus impregnated Maia in the middle of the night, whilst the other gods slept, and before dawn Hermes was born. Maia gave birth to Hermes in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.

As a newborn, Hermes got his first chance to be a prankster and thief, and by nightfall of his first day alive he had travelled to Thessaly and rustled the immortal cattle of his brother, Apollo. Hiding the cattle in a small grotto, Hermes started back to his mother. Before returning though he saw a tortoise, and immediately saw the opportunity of its shell as a musical instrument, using the shell and the intestines of a cow, Hermes created the first Lyre. The first evidence that Hermes was indeed the cleverest of the gods, as was later claimed.

Apollo was not amused when he found he had been robbed, and promptly accused Hermes. Hermes’ mother though provided Hermes an alibi, believing that he had been in the cave all night. Zeus, though intervened having watched the whole thing, and told Hermes he was to return the cattle. Hermes during the argument had taken up his lyre and started to play, enchanted by the music, Apollo, agreed to an exchange of his cattle for the lyre, which became one of his symbols. Later on Hermes also invented the pan-pipes and flute as he watched over his new cattle. Again Apollo desired these instruments and traded his golden wand with Hermes.

Zeus gave Hermes the role of messenger of the gods. In this role Hermes delivered messages from Mount Olympus to both mortals and immortals. Hermes was given this vital role because as well as being the fastest of all gods, Zeus saw him as being the most loyal. As a messenger Hermes also served as a psycho-pomp, a guide for the dead souls on there way to the underworld, and was one of the few gods, other than Hades, who could enter and leave as he wished. Hermes is traditionally portrayed wearing a winged cap and winged sandals, and carrying his herald’s staff (the kerykeion). As befitted a guide to the lost souls, Hermes would wear the garments of a traveller, and carry a purse or pouch.

As a messenger to mortals, Hermes helped them out, assisting travellers on their journeys. Hermes would also give gifts to man, in some stories he gave fire, he introduced the musical scale, astronomy, dice, weights and measure as well as all the arts. As the fastest of the gods, it is of no surprise that Hermes is also credited in introducing many sports including gymnastics, boxing and athletics.

Hermes/Mercury - Evelyn de Morgan - PD-art-100

As befits one of the twelve main Olympians, there are numerous tales about Hermes, and as always with Greek tales there are different versions of the same tale. It was Hermes who assisted Perseus in his quest to face the Gorgon Medusa, providing him with Hermes’ own winged sandals. In addition Hermes also loaned Perseus a helmet of invisibility, which enabled Perseus to avoid the Medusa’s sisters.

Hermes was always considered the most loyal to Zeus, and to back this image, it was Hermes who retrieved Zeus’ tendons from Typhon. In addition when the giants revolted against Mount Olympus, Hermes donned the helmet of invisibility to defeat the giant Hippolytus. As the messenger of the gods Hermes would appear in a number of tales, and it was Hermes who Zeus sent to speak to Prometheus about a prophecy of rebellion against Zeus.

Hermes’ loyalty is also displayed in the tale of Io, the lover of Zeus. Io was turned into a cow, before Hera, the wife of Zeus, had the giant Argos guard the heifer. It was Hermes who slew the one hundred eye giant, after lulling Argos to sleep with his flute; Hermes used his sword to decapitate the giant, thus allowing Io to wander the world. The eyes of Argos were then set upon the plumage of the peacock by Hera.

Hermes also appears frequently in Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. According to Homer it was Hermes who guided King Priam through the Greek forces in order to retrieve the body of Hector, his son. In the Odyssey, it is Hermes who is sent by Zeus, to tell Calypso to let Odysseus go, and later Hermes assists Odysseus himself, providing antidotes to ensure the release of Odysseus shipmates from the goddess Circe.

Hermes, gained many nicknames by his actions, most famously he was Argeiphontes, the slayer of Argus, and Logios, the orator. But in addition he was known as; Dolios, the schemer; Epimelius, the keeper of flocks; Eriounios, luck bringer; and Pschopompos, conveyor of souls.

It is perhaps not surprising that as one of the original phallic gods, associated with fertility, Hermes was credited with a large number of offspring following liaisons with a number of mortals, goddesses and nymphs. Many of his offspring have their own roles in Greek mythology and are far too numerous to list all of them, though four of the more notable ones are Pan, Abderus, Hermaphroditus and Eros.

Hermes and Argus - Jacob Jordaens - PD-art-100

Pan was the half man, half goat son of Hermes and Dryope. Dryope is said to have ran from the sight of her son when he was born, at which point Pan was taken to Mount Olympus. The gods so loved Pan’s laughter and appearance that he was given the role of patron to the fields, the shepherds and their flocks.

Abderus, was the companion of Heracles, before he was devoured by the Mares of Diomedes during Heracles’ eighth task.

Hermaphroditus was the son of Hermes and the goddess Aphrodite, though raised by the water nymphs on Mount Ida. Hermaphroditus was changed into an intersex person, when the gods granted the nymph Salmacis’ wish, that they would never be separated.

In some stories, Hermes was also the father of Eros, the winged god of love, again produced with the goddess Aphrodite, although Ares and Hephaestus have been cited as the father as well.

As the friend of mortals, it is not surprising that Hermes was widely worshipped throughout Greece. The cult of Hermes though was especially prevalent in Arcadia, where Hermoea festivals would be held in his honour. Many Greeks would sacrifice before making any journey, in order that their trip would be without incident.

Even today Hermes has not completely disappeared, the Greek post office use an image of Hermes as their symbol. In popular culture Hermes also makes appearances, and in the television series of “Wonder Woman” it was Hermes, who provided the gift of super speed and unaided flight.

Copyright - First Published 26th February 2008