Hermes was the messenger of the gods, carrying correspondence between gods and humans. He wore winged shoes and used them to fly between Mount Olympus and the land of the mortals.

He was the escort to travelers, helping them have a safe journey. Hermes would escort the dead to the underworld, and was said to be one of the only gods besides Hades, Persephone, and Hecate who could enter and leave Hades at will.

Hermes was the god of many things, including travelers and the boundaries they crossed, shepherds, cowherds, literature and poets, invention, weights and measures, commerce, athletics, and cunning. He is said to have invented racing and wrestling, and was a patron god of athletes. He is also believed to have invented fire.

Symbols of Hermes include winged sandals, a winged cap, and the purse. The rooster and the tortoise were sacred to him.

Mythology

Hermes father was Zeus; his mother, the Pleiade Maia, was the daughter of Atlas the Titan. He was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. His first day born was a busy one, having invented the lyre and stolen the immortal cattle of Apollo. Hermes took the cattle to Greece and placed them in hiding. Apollo was not fooled, though, and confronted Hermes, who denied stealing them. Maia stood up for her son and told Apollo that Hermes could not have taken his sacred cattle, but Zeus intervened and admitted his son’s theft. While Zeus and Apollo argued, Hermes began to play his lyre. Apollo was so enthralled by the music that he agreed to trade his cattle to Hermes in exchange for they lyre.

During his existence Hermes had many consorts, including Aphrodite, Herse, Pandrosus, and Penelope. His wives and mistresses bore him many children, including the goat like Pan, and the mischievous Eros.

While Hermes was associated more for his thievery and as an escort to the dead, he did assist Perseus in killing Medusa by allowing Perseus to borrow his winged sandals. He also gave Perseus Zeus’ sickle and Hades’ helmet of invisibility.

In addition to escorting the dead souls into Hades, Hermes would escort Persephone back to Demeter. As a messenger, he would carry dreams to mortals.

Hermes assisted the Trojan king Priam near the end of the Trojan War. When Priam went to fetch the body of his son Hector, Hermes met him along the road. He escorted Priam past the Achaian guards and into Achilleus’ compound. The next morning, Hermes escorted Priam and the body of his son back to Troy.

Hermes in Popular Culture

• Hermes’ most significant role in modern culture is the use of his name as the title of the famous leather and fashion house. Hermes is synonymous with elegance and quality in designer handbags.

• Many software and messenger programs bear the name Hermes, in deference to his position as messenger to the gods. Hermes Softlab and Hermes webmail service are just two such companies.

• Hermes fashion has created an ultra-luxury, five passenger helicopter.

• The Hermes experiment in Germany studies the structure of matter.

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