Â鶹APP

15 Interesting Facts About Greek God Hermes

He is the Greek god of commerce, patron of travelers and thieves, and the messenger of other gods. In almost all ancient texts, he is depicted wearing a winged helmet and sandals. Hermes is credited with inventing the alphabet, numerous musical instruments, and Iyre. He was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia. He was seen as a god of nature. Further, he was also referred to as a messenger.

Read more about other mythological gods here.

1. His Attributes and Symbols

, , via Wikimedia Commons

It is recorded that he was seen wearing winged sandals and a winged helmet. He was often symbolized by the rooster, the tortoise, the number four, and the palm tree. Hermes’ main symbol is the caduceus which is a winged staff intertwined with two snakes copulating and carvings of the other gods. In Roman mythology and religion, Hermes’ is described to have the same characteristics as Mercury. The name is derived from the Latin merx meaning merchandise.

2. His Referred to as a god of Nature

Scholars believe that Hermes is a pre-Hellenic god because of his worship and original nature. However, because he was established in Greece specifically in remote regions, he is noted as a god of nature, farmers, and shepherds. 

Many believe that he was a deity with shamanic attributes that are linked to reconciliation, magic, divination, sacrifices, and initiation. In some myths, Hermes originated as a form of the god Pan who is identified as a reflex of the Pronto-Indo-European. In most myths, Pan is re-introduced as Hermes’s son.

3. He was Depicted in Classical and Hellenistic Greece

Hlava Herma, mramor, cca -425. , , via Wikimedia Commons

He is shown as a young, athletic man without a beard. However, he was later depicted with a wide-brimmed hat adorned with a pair of small wings. He is also seen holding the caduceus which appeared with him. In Greek mythology, some of the other gods have been depicted holding a caduceus even though it was mainly associated with Hermes. 

It is believed that the staff had the power to make people fall asleep or wake up. However, the staff was also seen as a sign of Hermes’ authority. Over the years, the Rod of Asclepius is conflated with the Caduceus.

4. He was Seen As a god of Boundaries

In Ancient Greece, Hermes was a phallic god of boundaries. They believed that adding a herma at the midway point between villages was a boundary marker. However, in Athens, herms were placed outside houses as a form of protection and as a link between the household and its gods.

5. His Historic Work during the Mycenaean and Archaic periods

In the Mycenaean period, he is recorded alongside the goddesses Posidaeja, Hera, Potnija, Diwja, and Ipamedeja which is translated as his worship was connected to theirs. In later periods, the worship of Hermes always took place within temples that were designated to goddesses.

However, in the Archaic period, Hermes is depicted as a protector and trickster. In the 7th century BC, he is described as a cunning god who is also the bringer of dreams and is known as a night guardian.

Click here to read more about gods in Greek mythology.

6. He was a god of Fertility

, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In early records, he was seen as a Chthonic deity. Many believed that Hermes was a symbol of the household’s fertility but specifically reflected on the potency of the male head of the household in producing children

7. He was Worshipped During the Middle Ages

In the 4th century AD, the worship of Hermes had been almost fully suppressed in the Roman Empire. By this time, he was recognized as a mystical or prophetic figure by Christian scholars. Some Christian philosophers used Hermetic writings and other ancient literature to support their belief in the prisca theologia which is a single thread of true theology that could be found uniting all regions.

They also shared that Hermes was the third in a line of important prophets after Noah and Enoch.

Read more about Greek mythology here.

8. There were Temples that were Dedicated to Him

During the Classical Greek period, Hermes is recorded to have only three temples that were specifically dedicated to him. One of the oldest places of worship for Hermes was Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. From there, the Hermes religion was spread to the whole of Greece. Sacrifices to Hermes involved cakes, goats, honey, and lambs. 

9. He was Honored through Festivals

Hermaea were ancient Greek festivals that were held annually in honor of Hermes. They took place at the foot of Mt Cyllene in Arcadia. The festivals honored him as patron of sport and gymnastics and they usually included athletic contests of various kinds.

10. He had More Names than usual

Some scholars gave Hermes the name Atlantiades because his mother was the daughter of Atlas. According to some ancient Greek texts, Hermes had an accompanying name, Argeiphontes, which meant the slayer of Argus.

He was also called Cyllenian because many believe that Hermes was born at Mount Cyllene and was nursed by the nymph Cyllene. In ancient Greek culture, Hermes was known as kriophoros which meant the ram-bearer. A figure that commemorates the solemn sacrifice of a ram.

11. He had a Strong Connection To The goddesses

, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

According to Greek mythology, Hermes sought the help of Zeus to seduce Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. It is noted that she bore Hermes a son named Hermaphroditus. However, it is believed that Peitho the goddess of seduction of persuasion was the wife of Hermes.

Daeira an Oceanid and an underworld goddess bore Hermes a son named Eleusis. Herse was an Athenian princess who bore him a son named Cephalus. Scholars have recorded that Hermes had numerous children with different goddesses and princesses

12. He had a Unique Depiction In Pop Cultures

In 1997, Hermes was depicted in the Disney Film Hercules as a geeky, bespectacled messenger who avoids confrontation. He is no longer recorded as a trickster but as a messenger of the Olympian gods. This can also be seen in the novel Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters.

13. He has an Interesting Title Among Other gods

In ancient Greek texts, he is seen as the herald of the gods. He was often closely connected with the deities of vegetation and the nymphs. Hermes was also written as the conductor of the dead to Hades.

14. Eygptian had an Equivalent of Hermes

In Egyptian mythology, the god Thoth is associated with him. He was a lunar deity with hidden knowledge. Thoth and Hermes had several similarities including both were patrons of writers, gods of words, and guides. Thoth was also a messenger.

15. He was Adopted Into the Roman Religion

, , via Wikimedia Commons

In the 4th century BC, Hermes was added to the Roman religion. His attributes and worship have been combined with the Etruscan god Turms with the name Mercury. He was one of the most popular Roman gods whose depictions can be found in earlier representations of both Hermes and Turms.

Aside from the shared attributes, Hermes’ role as a god of boundaries, a psychopomp, and a messenger remained unchanged even though he was adopted into Roman mythology and religion.

Click here to read more about other Greek gods.

Hermes was worshipped throughout ancient Greece as a patron of good fortune and luck. With his cunning and wit, he was described as the fastest of all the Olympian gods.