hermes


 * The God Hermes.**



[|hermes pic]

[|pantheon] Hermes is the god of shepherds, land travel, merchants, weights and measures, literature, and athletics and thieves.Hermes is known for his cunning a shrewdness. Most importantly he is the messenger god. Hermes was worshiped in Greece, Mostly in Arcadia. There were festivals that honored called Hermoea. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. Born in a cave on Mount Cyllene. Made his first lyre out of a shell of a tortoise and cow intestines of a cow that he had stolen from Apollo. When Apollo came to the cave to get his cattle back from Hermes, he had started playing his lyre and Apollo said he would exchange all the cattle for Hermes lyre. Since he was the the herald it was his job to bring the souls of the dead to the underworld. He was also connected to bringing dreams to the living. Hermes symbols are winged sandals, winged cap, and a heralds staff, tortoise, purse, or pouch. At first Hermes was the god of fertility and fortune. The children of Hermes are Pan, Abderus, and Hermaphroditus. Hermes had often had affairs with goddesses, nymphs and mortals. Hermes was credited for creating foot-racing, and boxing. His statue stands in every gymnasium in Greece. Hermes had helped Odysseus, and Io in their adventures, Io with setting her free from the hundred eyed Argus. Odysseus with persuading Calypso to let Odysseus free. Also he had led Eurydice to the underworld after she had been allowed to spend the day with her loving Orpheus. The greek post office has Hermes as the symbol.