The Myth Of Hermes, The Divine Messenger

The myth of Hermes tells us about one of the most multifaceted gods in Greek mythology. He was one of the most active and restless. For that reason, he was considered the protector of several activities, such as trade, borders, and the travelers who crossed them.

Hermes was also considered the protector of thieves and liars,  the one who guided the souls of the dead, and a divine messenger.

Mythology represents him as a handsome, athletic young man who never stopped talking and he loved making jokes. He wore a hat and had wings, either on his sandals or on his feet. It allowed him to move faster whenever he needed to walk.

Likewise , the myth of Hermes tells us that this young man always carried the heraldic staff, a magic wand with which he could make gods and mortals sleep. With this he led the souls of the dead to the underworld.

Hermes was the son of Zeus and the plejade, Maia. He was the boss of the dreams, the guardian of the gates, the spy in the dark and eventually became a messenger for the gods.

The myth of Hermes is actually many myths combined. Although he was not the primary character, he appeared in many of the most relevant episodes of Greek mythology. 

The myth of Hermes and the lyre

The myth of Hermes says he was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. He was only a few days old when he fled from his manger and ran through the fields. He went so far that he reached a meadow where his brother, Apollo, grazed the herd of oxen and cows.

When he saw them, he was overwhelmed by the temptation and decided to steal them and take them to a nearby cave.

When he had saved his prey, Hermes returned home. Before he arrived, he saw a turtle and immediately got an idea. He killed the turtle, took out its entrails, and stretched some strings, made of oxen, over its shield. This is according to legend, how he invented the lyre. Next, he returned to his crib and fell asleep.

When Apollo discovered that his animal had been stolen, he used his powers in divination to find the perpetrator. This is how he discovered it was Hermes, and he went to Zeus to accuse him.

Maia, Hermes’ mother, tried to apologize to the boy by emphasizing that he was just a helpless baby. However , Zeus was not to be fooled, and he demanded that the boy hand over what he had stolen. 

Overpowered by his father’s authority, Hermes went to the cave where he had kept his prey, and he handed over the cows and oxen to Apollo. However , Apollo was amazed at the lyre that Hermes had made. 

Therefore, he entered into an agreement with the winged god to exchange all his cattle for the instrument. Hermes also accepted and received a staff that the boy used to build his favorite weapon: the Herald staff.

Hermes’ adventure

The mythical Hermes had many adventures. One of the most notable occurred when his father, an unfaithful god by all accounts, was discovered by his wife, Hera, when he was unfaithful to Io, a priestess of Hera himself. 

When she discovered the affair, Zeus wanted to protect Io by turning her into a white calf. But, his wife, always on guard, sent Argos, a monster with a thousand eyes, to keep an eye on her so that no one would approach her.

However , Zeus requisitioned his son, Hermes, to free his lover. The messenger of the gods sang beautiful songs for the monster and entertained it with stories and anecdotes. In this way he managed to make it fall asleep and was thus able to complete the mission that his father had entrusted to him.

The myth of Hermes tells us that this god also played an important role when he gave Persus some sandals with wings. This magical footwear was crucial in Perseus’ victory over Medusa. Hermes also led Perseus’ soul to the entrance of the underworld, which was his custom.

Hermes also played a very dominant role in the Trojan War, where he was on the side of the Greeks. This god was also very lovable and had several offspring. His most famous son was Pan, the god of nature and cattle herding.

The word “hermeneutics” or the art of interpreting hidden opinions is a derivative of “Hermes”, which in Roman mythology was known as Mercury.