Hermes was one of the 12 gods of the ancient Greek pantheon. Its Roman counterpart is Mercury. According to ancient Greek mythology, Hermes was the messenger and herald of the rest of the Olympians, as well as the patron saint of travelers and thieves. In addition, diplomats and merchants considered this god their protector.
Who was Hermes
According to the legends of the ancient Greeks, the father of Hermes was the Thunderer Zeus himself. His matter is considered to be the goddess Maya - the daughter of Atlas and one of the Pleiades. The myths of Ancient Greece describe in sufficient detail exactly how this character was born. According to legend, Hermes was born in Arcadia in one of the caves on Mount Tsilen.
Since this god was one of the descendants of Atlas, the ancient Greeks also called him Atlantis. Another name for Hermes, sometimes found in myths, is Cilenius (after the name of the mountain on which he was born).
Hermes and the oxen of Apollo
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This god plays an important role in many ancient Greek legends. In one of the myths, Hermes is portrayed as a very intelligent, precocious child. Soon after his birth, this god, according to legend, got out of his cradle and went to Pieria in Thessaly.
Here he showed unprecedented cunning and resourcefulness, stealing several of his bulls from Apollo. In order to prevent the traces of animals from betraying him, he put boots on their feet. In Pylos in the Peloponnese, two oxen, according to legend, were sacrificed by Hermes at the stake. At the same time he nailed their skins to the rock. God ate part of the meat of the sacrificial oxen himself, and burned the rest. Hermes hid the remaining oxen in a cave. Then he returned to his mother Maya.
The second main character of this myth - Apollo in the legends of Ancient Greece appears not only as the most beautiful god. Among other things, he is also a visionary. Of course, to find the kidnapper of the oxen, despite all his cunning, Apollo, who possessed a prophetic gift, did not have much difficulty.
The seer god went to Mount Tsilena and told about the unsightly act of Hermes to his mother Maya. However, the goddess completely refused to believe Apollo, assuring him that his prophecy was wrong. As proof, Maya showed God the cradle in which Hermes was sleeping peacefully.
However, Apollo was not going to surrender and led Hermes to Zeus. The Supreme God believed the seer and ordered the boy to return the stolen goods. Hermes did not admit that he was wrong. But at the same time, he still realized that he could not resist two adult gods. Therefore, Hermes took Apollo to the cave in which the oxen were hidden.
The invention of the lyre
According to ancient Greek myths, Hermes, among other things, was also a good musician. Also, this god is credited with the invention of the lyre. According to legend, while eating in Pylos, Hermes saw the shell of a turtle. Pulling on him strings made from the intestines of bulls, he made a melodic unusual musical instrument, which was later called the lyre.
Also, the ancient Greeks attributed the invention of the plectrum to Hermes. This bone plate, intended for playing stringed instruments, was widely used in ancient Greece by musicians.
Friendship of Hermes and Apollo
In a dispute with the seer god over the stolen bulls, Hermes thus lost. Apollo could bring his animals back. However, the esthete god heard Hermes playing his lyre. Apollo really liked the musical instrument, and he offered its owner a deal. Hermes had to give the lyre in exchange for the stolen bulls. The inventor, of course, agreed to this proposal.
The relationship between Apollo and Hermes did not end there. The lyre and plectrum were not the only musical instruments invented by a talented god. After a while, Hermes made a syringa flute. This invention also attracted Apollo. In exchange for syringa, the seer god offered Hermes his golden staff.
Apollo eventually received a new musical instrument as well. However, in addition to the staff, Hermes demanded that God teach him the art of prophecy. Apollo agreed to this proposal. Subsequently, in the process of learning, the gods became inseparable friends.
Herald of the Gods
In addition to a talented inventor and a thief, Hermes, according to myths, was also a very successful merchant. Admiring his ability to convince buyers, the supreme god of the Greek pantheon - Zeus, decided to make him an Olympic "diplomat", messenger and herald.
Fulfilling this role, Hermes was forced to travel a lot. That is why in ancient Greece he was considered the patron saint of not only diplomats and merchants, but all wanderers.
An interesting fact is that Hermes, according to the ideas of the people of antiquity, patronized not only living travelers, but also the souls of the dead. This god, among other things, escorted the dead to the underworld.
Hermes in art
Thus, the main role of Hermes in ancient Greek mythology was diplomacy. In engravings, both ancient and modern, this god is depicted with a caduceus (herald's rod) in his hand. Sometimes this attribute in the drawings is replaced by Herold's magic staff, which allowed Hermes to transmit the messages of the gods to people in a dream.
Another must-have attribute of this god is a wide-brimmed hat, which is a must-have for all travelers. And of course, in prints, paintings and drawings, Hermes is depicted in winged sandals. Such shoes allowed the god to move very quickly from one place to another. It was these sandals that Hermes offered to Perseus during his search for Medusa the Gorgon.
Lazko Natalia
