When his father Zeus decided to create the irresistible Pandora (in order to punish Epimetheus for his brother Prometheus' actions), Hermes helped by gifting the girl with deceitfulness, which was what greatly contributed to her finally opening her pithos.Īs the messenger of gods, Hermes would often serve as the intermediary between the gods and the mortal world. An angry Hermes then lifted her house and hurled it at Chelone, transforming her into the first turtle. Among them was the nymph Chelone, who had no desire to come to the celebration. Hermes was in charge of distributing invitations to the many guests of Zeus and Hera's wedding. When he came of age, Hermes was made the messenger of the gods.
Hermes also traded the shepherd's pipe (another invention of his) to Apollo in exchange for his golden staff (Caduceus), sword, and knowledge of the art of prophecy. Apollo was instantly enchanted by the instrument and forgot about his anger immediately. Undeceived, but amused by the child's boldness and wit, Zeus instead forced him to compensate Apollo, which Hermes did by presenting him with the lyre. When brought before his father on Mount Olympus, Hermes attempted to charm Zeus into letting him go by telling him he was just an innocent newborn baby. He even thought of a clever way to cover up his crime: tying bundles of grass to the cows' feet and leading them backward out of the pasture to make it look like something had been led into the pasture but not away from it.īaby Hermes stealing Apollo's cattle in Percy Jackson's Greek Godsĭespite this, Apollo found out and went to Zeus for justice. (The god's place of birth was, according to many sources, Mount Cyllene in northeastern Arcadia). Being a god, he matured rapidly and within a few minutes of his birth stole the cattle of Apollo and invented the lyre. Hermes was born sometime after the First Titanomachy, the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and the Pleiad Maia. History Birth and Abducting Apollo's Cattle 1.1 Birth and Abducting Apollo's Cattle.Because of his speed, he was sometimes considered a god of winds. He ruled over wealth, good fortune, commerce, fertility, and thievery. He was the most clever of the Olympian gods, and served as messenger for all the other gods. The Greek god Hermes (the Roman Mercury ) was the god of translators and interpreters. More specifically, he was known as a patron of poetry. Hermes was the god of shepherds, land travel, and literature. He primarily served as the herald or messenger of the gods. Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, one of the Pleiades. He was also the patron of travellers, writers, athletes, merchants, thieves and orators. Hermes was a Greek god associated with speed and good luck, who served as a messenger to Zeus and the other gods.
By noon he was able to invent the lyre and play a hymn celebrating his own birth on it.Īlso, what is the origin of Hermes? Meaning & History Probably from Greek 'ερμα (herma) meaning "cairn, pile of stones, boundary marker". He was born in a cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia at dawn. Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, the oldest of the seven Pleiades. Similarly one may ask, how old is Hermes the Greek God? Zeus had impregnated Maia at the dead of night while all other gods slept. According to legend, Hermes was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Hermes/Mercury is Zeus' messenger, God of Commerce and Market, God of Thieves, and also the guide of the dead.