The Hymns to Hermes Summary

"The Hymn to Hermes"

This hymn, among the longest in the collection, narrates in some detail the early life of the god Hermes and how he came to be known as the Trickster god, the liar god, and the messenger god.

The poet describes how Hermes was born to the nymph Maia after she was impregnated by Zeus who, in the same way as he kept the mother of Dionysus hidden (see Part 2), kept Maia and her child hidden in a cave. The poet writes of how Hermes, the day after he was born, kills a large turtle and used its shell to make a lyre (see "Objects/Places"), but was unable to play it well. That night, Hermes goes out into the world exploring, discovers a herd of cattle sacred to the sun god Apollo, and...