Hermes(Mercury)
Hermes (or Mercury) is known the herald of the Olympian gods. His father was Zeus and his mother the nymph Maia, daughter of Atlas. He is the ancient Greek god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, oratory, literature, athletics and thieves, and known for his cunning and shrewdness. Birth and Early Life He was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Zeus had impregnated Maia at the dead of night while all other gods slept. When dawn broke amazingly he was born. Maia wrapped him in swaddling bands, then resting herself, fell fast asleep. But he squirmed free and ran off to Thessaly. This is where Apollo, his brother, grazed his cattle. Mercury stole a number of the herd and drove them back to Greece. He hid them in a small grotto near to the city of Pylos and covered their tracks. Before returning to the cave he caught a tortoise, killed it and removed its entrails. Using the intestines from a cow stolen from Apollo and the hollow tortoise shell, he made the first lyre. When he reached the cave he wrapped himself back into the swaddling bands. When Apollo realized he had been robbed he protested to Maia about who had taken his cattle. Maia looked to Mercury and said it could not be, as he is still wrapped in swaddling bands. Zeus the all powerful intervened saying he had been watching and Mercury should return the cattle to Apollo. As the argument went on, Mercury began to play his lyre. The sweet music enchanted Apollo, and he offered Hermes to keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre. Apollo later became the grand master of the instrument, and it also became one of his symbols. Later while Hermes watched over his herd he invented the pipes known as a syrinx (pan-pipes), which he made from reeds. Mercury was also credited with inventing the flute. Apollo, also desired this instrument, so Mercury bartered with Apollo and received his golden wand which Hermes later used as his heralds staff. (In other versions Zeus gave Mercury his heralds staff). His Duties Being the herald (messenger of the gods), it was his duty to guide the souls of the dead down to the underworld, which is known as a psychopomp. He was also closely connected with bringing dreams to mortals. Mercury is usually depicted with a broad-brimmed hat or a winged cap, winged sandals and the heralds staff (kerykeion in Greek, or Caduceus in Latin). It was often shown as a shaft with two white ribbons, although later they were represented by serpents intertwined in a figure of eight shape, and the shaft often had wings attached. The clothes he donned were usually that of a traveler, or that of a workman or shepherd. Other symbols of Hermes are the cock, tortoise and purse or pouch. LinksHermes Experience Ancient Greece Home Page Ancient Greek Gods Jenny Ervin Contact Me
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