Hermes the greek messenger god
Created | Updated Apr 19, 2003
Hermes was the herald of Zeus. The maker of treaties, the god of commerce, and the guardian of travelers. He would summon the dead to their new homes for Hades. His father was Zeus and his mother was Maia, a daughter of the titan Atlas, who gave birth to him in a cove in Mount Cyllene. He had a workshop at Mount Olympus where he invented the alphabet, astronomy, the scales, and card games. He wore winged sandals and a winged low crowned hat and carried a gold staff called The Caducesus.
Before he was one day old he was a thief. He stole a herd of cows belonging to Apollo. When Apollo found him, hHermes offered him an instrument he had just invented that he called a lyre made from a tortoise shell and strung with cowgut in return for the cow that he had killed.
Before he was one day old he was a thief. He stole a herd of cows belonging to Apollo. When Apollo found him, hHermes offered him an instrument he had just invented that he called a lyre made from a tortoise shell and strung with cowgut in return for the cow that he had killed.
