Hermes: More Than A Messager

Hey all, I've been getting more and more into Greek myths, and Hermes is one of my favorite deities to study, so I thought I'd write about him.

Update: Thank you for the feature!

Art Credit: Unknown, found on Pinterest.

Etymology

The earliest form of the name Hermes is found in the Mycenaean Greek word, "hermāhās," which most scholars believes the name Hermes is derived from. Hermāhās, in this context means, "stone heap," (Paul).

While not all scholars agree with that particular etymology of Hermes's name, some believing that his name comes from a more primitive word meaning, "one cairn," it is the association I prescribe to, and I'll tell you why in the early cult section below.

In ancient Rome, Hermes was worshipped as Mercury, which is a name that means, "merchandise."

Art Credit: Stoyan Haytov

Early Cults of Hermes

His cults were largely found in remote regions of Greece, which likely links him to farming, pastures, nature, and sheperds. Basically, a real rustic vibe. According to one scholarly hypothesis, which is widely accepted, Hermes originated as a form of the God Pan, who has been linked to the Indo-European God Péhusōn, who is a God of boundary markers (which was usually marked by piles of stone). It is believed that Hermes supplanted Pan, and took over the role as God of messengers, travelers, and boundaries which originally belonged to Pan. In later myths it is said that Pan is Hermes's son.

Art Credit: Super Giant Games

Appearance

Hermes is usually depicted as a young, athletic, beardless youth; or as an older, bearded man. Winged boots and a herald's wand are almost always with him.

What is he a God of?

Herds, flocks, travelers, hospitality, roads, trade, thievery, cunning, heralds, diplomacy, language, writing, athletic contests, gymnasiums, sleep, divination, birds of omen, astronomy, and astrology. He was the herald and personal messenger of Zeus, King of the Gods, and also the guide of the dead who led souls down into the Underworld (Theoi).

:rabbit: :sheep: :strawberry: :cow: :rabbit:

His Sacred Plants and Animals

Rams, hares, herds, cattle, sheep, goats, tortoises, strawberries, and the crocus flower (Theoi).

Children and Consorts

I'm going to list his immortal children, because he has A LOT of mortal children.

· Pan, a rustic, wilderness God, possible mothers are either Dryopos, Thmybris, Penelopeia, Orneios, or Kallisto.

· Pan-Agreus, whose mother is Sose.

· Pan-Nomios, whose mother is Penelopeia.

· Hermaphroditus, God of hermaphrodites, and effeminate people. Also, an Erote whose name is where we derived the word, "Hermaphrodite," from. Mother is Aphrodite.

· Priapus, God of vegetable gardens.

· Lykos, Pherespondos, and Pronomos, the three satyr messengers of Dionysus. Mother is Iphthime.

· Angelia, personified daimon of messages, this is where the word, "Angel," originated from.

· Palaestra, the goddess or spirit (daimona) of the sport of wrestling.

· Eleusis, eponymous demi-goddess or heroine of the town of Eleusis in Attika. Mother is Daeira.

Does He Have a Creation Myth?

Yes, and it's hilarious.

In the dead of night, Zeus impregnated the nymph Maia, while all the Gods slept. At day break, Hermes was born on top of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Maia, his mother, swaddled him and fell back asleep. While she slept, Hermes slipped off to Thessaly to steal Apollo's sacred cattle. He hid them in a grotto near Pylos, and to throw Apollo off his tracks, Hermes turned the cow's hooves backwards, so that they could not be so easily followed. Finally, before returning home, he caught a tortoise and made the first lyre out of it (somehow), then swaddled himself back up in the cloth his mother wrapped him in.

Apollo eventually tracked Hermes down and brought the child to Zeus to figure out what to do with this cattle stealing infant. Zeus said Hermes should return the cattle. Instead, he made a trade with Apollo, giving him the lyre in return for the cattle he stole. Hermes kept the cattle, and Apollo was gifted a lyre, which later became a symbol of his (Cartwright).

Resources

Cartwright, Mark. “Hermes.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 16 Feb. 2021, www.ancient.eu/Hermes/.

“HERMES - Greek God of Herds & Trade, Herald of the Gods.” Theoi Greek Mythology, www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html.

Paul, Robert S, and Beeks. “Etymological Dictionary of Greek : Beekes, R. S. P. (Robert Stephen Paul) : Free , Borrow, and Streaming.” Internet Archive, Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 1 Jan. 2010, archive.org/details/etymologicaldict00beek.

Background Image By:

Peter Paul Rubens