One of the most popular of all Greek gods; the son of → Zeus and the mountain nymph → Maía. Sacred to him were the piles of stones erected in ancient Greece to guide travellers—hence, presumably, his name (Greek hermaion=pile of stones). In front of Greek houses stone pillars used to stand (hermen) in which Hérmes was supposed to reside in order to protect the dwelling from harm. In this capacity, the god was known as Pylaios or Propylaios. Hérmes is the messenger of the gods, equipped with herald’s staff (kerykeion), winged shoes and hat; he is protector of tradesmen and travellers—but also of thieves.
The myth relates how Hérmes while still a small boy, stole a herd of cattle belonging to his brother → Apóllon. In his aspect of psychopompos he leads the souls of the dead into the beyond. He is also ‘the good shepherd’ and is often portrayed carrying a ram under his arm or over his shoulder (kriophoros=rambearer). As god of herds and flocks he has the epithet Nomios. He has in addition a happy relationship with music, and is said to have invented the lyre. His Roman counterpart was → Mercurius.
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