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Hermes

Hermes , in Greek mythology Greek mythology

Greek mythology consists in part of a large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the wo... 

, is the Olympian god Twelve Olympians

* Family tree of the Greek gods [i] ... 

 of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherd Shepherd

A shepherd is one who takes care of sheep [i], usually in flocks in the fields. ... 

s and cowherds, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures and invention and commerce in general, and of the cunning of thieves and liars. The Homeric hymn to Hermes invokes him as the one As a translator, Hermes is the messenger from the gods to humans. An interpreter who bridges the boundaries with strangers is a hermeneus. Hermes gives us our word "hermeneutics" for the art of interpreting hidden meaning.

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Hermes , in Greek mythology Greek mythology

Greek mythology consists in part of a large collection of narratives that explain the origins of the wo... 

, is the Olympian god Twelve Olympians

* Family tree of the Greek gods [i]
... 

 of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherd Shepherd

A shepherd is one who takes care of sheep [i], usually in flocks in the fields. ... 

s and cowherds, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures and invention and commerce in general, and of the cunning of thieves and liars. The Homeric hymn to Hermes invokes him as the one
"of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods."


As a translator, Hermes is the messenger from the gods to humans. An interpreter who bridges the boundaries with strangers is a hermeneus. Hermes gives us our word "hermeneutics" for the art of interpreting hidden meaning. In Greek a lucky find was a hermaion.

Hermes, as an inventor of fire, is a parallel of the Titan, Prometheus Prometheus

In Greek mythology [i], Prometheus, or Satan' is the Titan [i] chiefly honored for stealing ... 

. In addition to the syrinx and the lyre Lyre

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument [i] well known for its use in Classical Antiquity [i] ... 

, Hermes was believed to have invented many types of racing and the sport of boxing Boxing

Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting or the sweet science , is a sport [i] ... 

, and therefore was a patron of athletes. Modern mythographers have connected Hermes with the trickster Trickster

In mythology [i], and in the study of folklore [i] and religion [i], a trickster is a god [i], goddess [i] ... 

 gods of other cultures.

Hermes also served as a psychopomp Psychopomp

Many sets of religious [i] beliefs have a particular spirit [i], deity [i], demon [i] ... 

, or an escort for the dead to help them find their way to the afterlife . In many Greek myths, Hermes was depicted as the only god besides Hades Hades

Hades refers to both the ancient Greek Underworld [i] and the God of the Dead. ... 

 and Persephone Persephone

In Greek mythology [i], Persephone was the queen of the Underworld [i], the Kore' ... 

 who could enter and leave the Underworld without hindrance.
In the fully-developed Olympian pantheon, Hermes was the son of Zeus Zeus

In Greek mythology [i], Zeus is the highest ranking god [i] among the Olympian gods [i] ... 

 and the Pleiade Maia, a daughter of the Titan Atlas Atlas

An atlas is a collection of map [i]s, traditionally bound into book form, but also found in multimedia [i] ... 

. Hermes' symbols were the rooster Rooster

A cock is a male chicken [i], the female being a hen [i]. ... 

 and the tortoise, and he can be recognized by his purse or pouch, winged sandals, winged cap, and the herald's staff, the kerykeion Caduceus

A caduceus is a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it.... 

. Hermes was the god of thieves because he was very cunning and shrewd and was a thief himself from the night he was born, when he slipped away from Maia and ran away to steal his elder brother Apollo Apollo

In Greek [i] and Roman mythology [i], Apollo , the ideal of the kouros [i], was the ... 

's cattle.

Hermes was loyal to his father Zeus. When the nymph Io, one of Zeus' consorts, was trapped by Hera and guarded over by the many-eyed giant Argus, Hermes saved her by lulling the giant to sleep with stories and then decapitating him with a crescent-shaped sword.

In the Roman adaptation of the Greek religion , Hermes was identified with the Roman god Mercury, who, though inherited from the Etruscans Etruscan civilization

The Etruscan civilization is the name given today to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient ... 

, developed many similar characteristics, such as being the patron of commerce.

Etymology

The name Hermes has been thought to be derived from the Greek word herma Herma

In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes [i] was a phallic [i] ... 

, which denotes a square or rectangular pillar with the head of Hermes adorning the top of the pillar, and male genitals below; however, due to the god's attestation in the Mycenaean pantheon, as Hermes Araoia in Linear B Linear B

Linear B is a script that was used for writing Mycenaean [i], an early form of Greek [i] ... 

 inscriptions at Pylos Pylos

Pylos , formerly Navarino, is the name of a bay and a town on the west coast of the [[Peloponnese]... 

 and Mycenaean Knossos Knossos

Knossos
Knossos, also known by its Romantic name of the Palace of Minos, was discovered in 1878 [i] by Minos Kalokairinos [i] ... 

 , the connection is more likely to have moved the opposite way, from deity to pillar representations. From the subsequent association of these cairns — which were used in Athens Athens

Athens is the capital [i] and the largest city of Greece [i]. ... 

 to ward off evil and also as road and boundary markers all over Greece — Hermes acquired patronage over land travel.Hermes was a messanger for Zeus.

Epithets of Hermes


Hermes' epithet Argeiphontes, or Argus-slayer, recalls his slaying of the many-eyed giant Argus, who was watching over the heifer Cattle

Cattle are domesticated [i] ungulate [i]s, a member of the subfamily [i] Bovinae [i] of t ... 

-nymph Io in the sanctuary of Queen Hera herself in Argos. Putting Argus to sleep, Hermes used a spell to permanently close all of Argus's eyes and then slew the giant. Argus's eyes were then put into the tail of the peacock, symbol of the goddess Hera.

Other epithets included:
  • Acacesius, of Acacus 
  • Argeiphontes, Argus-slayer, or giant slayer
  • Charidotes, giver of charm
  • Criophorus, ram-bearer
  • Cyllenius, born on Mount Cyllene 
  • Diaktoros, the messenger
  • Dolios, the schemer
  • Enagonios, of the games
  • Enodios, on the road
  • Epimelius, keeper of flocks
  • Eriounios, luck bringer
  • Polygius
  • Psychopompos, conveyor of souls

Cult

General article: Cult Cult

In religion [i] and sociology [i], a cult is a cohesive group of people devoted to beliefs or practices that t ... 

.

Though temples to Hermes existed throughout Greece Greece

Greece
Greece lies at the juncture of Europe [i], Asia [i], and Africa [i]. ... 

, a major center of his cult was at Pheneos in Arcadia Arcadia

Arcadia or Arkada is a region of Greece [i] in the Peloponnesus [i]. ... 

, where festivals in his honor were called Hermoea.

As a crosser of boundaries, Hermes Psychopompos was a psychopomp, meaning he brought newly-dead souls to the Underworld and Hades Hades

Hades refers to both the ancient Greek Underworld [i] and the God of the Dead. ... 

. In the Homeric
Hymn to Demeter, Hermes conducted Persephone Persephone

In Greek mythology [i], Persephone was the queen of the Underworld [i], the Kore' ... 

, the Kore, safely back to Demeter Demeter

Dmtr is the Greek [i] goddess [i] of agriculture [i], the pure nourisher of youth and ... 

. He also brought dreams to living mortals.

Among the Hellene Greeks

The Greeks are an ethnic group [i] mostly found in the southern Balkan peninsula [i] of southeastern Europe [i] ... 

s, as the related word
herma Herma

In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes [i] was a phallic [i] ... 

  would suggest, Hermes embodied the spirit of crossing-over: He was seen to be manifest in any kind of interchange, transfer, transgressions, transcendence, transition, transit or traversal, all of which activities involve some form of crossing in some sense. This explains his connection with transitions in one’s fortunes -- with the interchanges of goods, words and information involved in trade, interpreting, oratory, writing -- with the way in which the wind may transfer objects from one place to another, and with the transition to the afterlife.



Originally, Hermes was depicted as an older, bearded, phallic god, but in the 6th century BCE, the traditional Hermes was reimagined as an athletic youth . Statues of the new type of Hermes stood at stadiums and gymnasiums throughout Greece.

Hermai Herma

In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes [i] was a phallic [i] ... 

/Herms

Main article: Herma Herma

In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes [i] was a phallic [i] ... 

.

In very ancient Greece, Hermes was a phallic god of boundaries. His name, in the form
herma Herma

In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes [i] was a phallic [i] ... 

, was applied to a wayside marker pile of stones; each traveller added a stone to the pile. In the 6th century BCE, Hipparchos, the son of Pisistratus, replaced the cairn Cairn

A cairn is a non-naturally occurring pile of stones erected by a person or persons.... 

s that marked the midway point between each village
deme Deme

:Lower Agryle [i]:Anagyrous [i]:Euonymon [i]:Themakos [i]:Kedoi [i]:Kephisia [i]:Upper Lamptrai [i]:Lower Lamptrai [i] ... 

at the central agora of Athens with a square or rectangular pillar of stone or bronze topped by a bust of Hermes with a beard Beard

A beard is the hair [i] that grows on a man's chin, cheeks, neck, and the area above the upper lip. ... 

. An erect phallus Phallus

A phallus is an erect penis [i] or the mimetic [i] image of an erect penis. ... 

 rose from the base. In the more primitive Mount Kyllini or Cyllenian herms, the standing stone or wooden pillar was simply a carved phallus. In Athens, herms were placed outside houses for good luck. "That a monument of this kind could be transformed into an Olympian Twelve Olympians

* Family tree of the Greek gods [i]
... 

 god is astounding," Walter Burkert remarked .

In 415 BCE, when the Athenian fleet was about to set sail for Syracuse Syracuse, Italy

Syracuse is an Italian [i] city on the eastern coast of Sicily [i] and the capital of the province of Syracuse [i] ... 

 during the Peloponnesian War Peloponnesian War

The Peloponnesian War was an Ancient Greek [i] military conflict fought by Athens [i] an ... 

, all of the Athenian hermai were vandalized. The Athenians at the time believed it was the work of saboteurs, either from Syracuse or from the anti-war faction within Athens itself. Socrates Socrates

Socrates was an ancient Greek [i] philosopher [i] who is widely credited for ... 

' pupil Alcibiades Alcibiades

Alcibiades Cleiniou Scambonides , also [[Transliteration of Greek to the Latin alphabet|transliterated]... 

 was suspected to have been involved, and Socrates indirectly paid for the impiety with his life.

From these origins, herm Herm

n>Herm

Herm is the smallest of the Channel Islands [i] that is open to the public.... 

s moved into the repertory of Classical architecture.

Hermes' iconography Iconography

Iconography usually refers to the design or creation of images and more specifically to the historic... 

Hermes was usually portrayed wearing a broad-brimmed traveller's hat or a winged cap , wearing winged sandals , and carrying his Near Eastern herald's staff -- either a caduceus Caduceus

A caduceus is a winged staff with two snakes wrapped around it.... 

entwined by copulating serpents, or a kerykeion topped with a symbol similar to the astrological Astrology

Astrology is a group of system [i]s, tradition [i]s, and belief [i]s in which knowledge of the relative ... 

 symbol of Taurus the bull. Hermes wore the garments of a traveler, worker, or shepherd. He was represented by purses or bags, roosters , and tortoises.

Birth

Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia Arcadia

Arcadia or Arkada is a region of Greece [i] in the Peloponnesus [i]. ... 

 to Maia. As the story is told in the Homeric Hymn, the Hymn to Hermes, Maia was a nymph Nymph

In Greek mythology [i], a nymph is any member of a large class of female nature entities, either bound t ... 

, but Greeks generally applied the name to a midwife or a wise and gentle old woman; so the nymph appears to have been an ancient one, or more probably a goddess. At any rate, she was one of the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, taking refuge in a cave of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.

The infant Hermes was precocious. On the day of his birth, by midday, he had invented the lyre Lyre

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument [i] well known for its use in Classical Antiquity [i] ... 

, using the shell of a tortoise. By nightfall, he had rustled the immortal cattle of Apollo. For the first Olympian sacrifice, the taboos surrounding the sacred of Apollo had to be transgressed, and the trickster god of boundaries was the one to do it.

Hermes drove the cattle back to Greece and hid them, and covered their tracks. When Apollo accused Hermes, Maia said that it could not be him because he was with her the whole night. However, Zeus entered the argument and said that Hermes did steal the cattle and they should be returned. While arguing with Apollo, Hermes began to play his lyre Lyre

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument [i] well known for its use in Classical Antiquity [i] ... 

. The instrument enchanted Apollo and he agreed to let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.

Hermes' offspring


Pan

The satyr Satyr

In Greek mythology [i], satyrs are half-man and half-goat [i] nature entities that roamed the woods and ... 

-like Greek god of nature, shepherds and flocks, Pan was often said to be the son of Hermes through the nymph Dryope. In the Homeric Hymn to Pan, Pan's mother ran away from the newborn god in fright over his goatlike appearance.

Hermaphroditus Hermaphroditus

In Greek mythology [i], Hermaphroditus or Hermaphroditos was the child of Aphrodite [i] and Hermes [i] ... 

Hermaphroditus Hermaphroditus

In Greek mythology [i], Hermaphroditus or Hermaphroditos was the child of Aphrodite [i] and Hermes [i] ... 

 was an immortal son of Hermes through Aphrodite Aphrodite

Aphrodite is the Greek [i] goddess [i] of love [i] and beauty [i] and sexuality [i] ... 

. He was changed into a hermaphrodite Hermaphrodite

[i] and [[female]... 

 when the gods literally granted the nymph Salmacis Salmacis

Salmacis was a fountain [i], located near the mausoleum at Halicarnassus [i]. ... 

's wish that they never separate.

Priapus Priapus

In Greek [i] mythology, Priapus was a minor rustic fertility god of purely phallic chara ... 

The god Priapus Priapus

In Greek [i] mythology, Priapus was a minor rustic fertility god of purely phallic chara ... 

 was a son of Hermes and Aphrodite. In Priapus, Hermes' phallic origins survived.

Eros

According to some sources, the mischievous winged god of love Eros, son of Aphrodite, was sired by Hermes, though the gods Ares Ares

[i] and son of [[Zeus]... 

 and Hephaestus Hephaestus

[i] whose approximate Roman equivalent is [[Vulcan |Vulcan]... 

 were also among those said to be the sire, whereas in the Theogeny, Hesiod Hesiod

Hesiod , the early Greek [i] poet [i] and rhapsode [i], presumably lived around 700 BCE [i] ... 

 claims that Eros was born of nothing before the Gods. Eros' Roman name was Cupid Cupid

In Roman mythology [i], Cupid is the god [i] of erotic [i] love [i]. ... 

.

Tyche Tyche

In Greek mythology [i], Tyche was the presiding tutelary [i] deity that governed the fortune and prospe ... 

The goddess of fortune, Tyche , or Fortuna, was sometimes said to be the daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite.

Abderus

Abderus was a son of Hermes who was devoured by the Mares of Diomedes. He had gone to the Mares with his friend Heracles Heracles

In Greek mythology [i], Heracles or Herakles was a divine hero [i], the son of Zeus [i] and ... 

.

Autolycus

Autolycus, the Prince of Thieves, was a son of Hermes and grandfather of Odysseus Odysseus

Odysses Lartides , or simply Odysseus, is the main character in Homer [i]'s epic poem [i]... 

.

List of Hermes' consorts and children

  1. Aglaulus Athenian princess
    1. Eumolpus warlord
  2. Antianeira Amazons

    In Greek mythology [i], the Amazons were either an ancient legendary nation of female warriors or a lan ... 

     Malian princess
    1. Echion Argonaut
  3. Apemosyne Cretan princess
  4. Aphrodite Aphrodite

    Aphrodite is the Greek [i] goddess [i] of love [i] and beauty [i] and sexuality [i] ... 

    1. Eros
    2. Eunomia Horae

      In Greek mythology [i], the Horae were three goddess [i]es controlling orderly life.... 

    3. Hermaphroditus Hermaphroditus

      In Greek mythology [i], Hermaphroditus or Hermaphroditos was the child of Aphrodite [i] and Hermes [i] ... 

    4. Peitho
    5. Priapus Priapus

      In Greek [i] mythology, Priapus was a minor rustic fertility god of purely phallic chara ... 

    6. Rhodos
    7. Tyche Tyche

      In Greek mythology [i], Tyche was the presiding tutelary [i] deity that governed the fortune and prospe ... 

  5. Carmentis Arcadian nymph
    1. Evander founder of Latium
  6. Chione Phocian princess
    1. Autolycus thief
  7. Dryope Arcadian nymph
    1. Pan rustic god
  8. Eupolomia Phthian princess
    1. Aethalides Argonaut herald
  9. Herse Athenian princess
    1. Cephalus Cephalus

      There are two characters named Cephalus in Greek mythology [i]. ... 

       hunter
  10. Crocus who died and became the crocus flower
  11. Pandrosus Athenian princess
    1. Ceryx Eleusinian herald
  12. Peitho
  13. Penelope Penelope

    Penlop is a character in the Odyssey [i], one of the two great epic poems [i] of ancie ... 

     Arcadian nymph
    1. Pan
  14. Sicilian Sicily

    Sicily is an autonomous region [i] of Italy [i] and the larges ... 

     nymph Nymph

    In Greek mythology [i], a nymph is any member of a large class of female nature entities, either bound t ... 

    1. Daphnis Daphnis

      Daphnis can also be a genus of hawk moth [i], and a moon of Saturn [i]

... 

 rustic poet
  1. Theobula Eleian princess
    1. Myrtilus charioteer
  2. Born of the urine of Hermes, Poseidon and Zeus
    1. Orion giant hunter
  3. Unknown mothers
    1. Abderus squire of Heracles

Hermes in the myths


The Iliad Iliad

The Iliad is, together with the Odyssey [i], one of two ancient Greek [i] epic [i]... 

In Homer Homer

Homer was a legendary early Greek [i] poet [i] and rhapsode [i] traditionally credited ... 

's Iliad, Hermes helped King Priam of Troy Troy

Troy is a legendary city and center of the Trojan War [i], as described in the Trojan War cycle [i], es... 

  sneak into the Achaean  encampment to confront Achilles Achilles

In Greek mythology [i], Achilles, also Akhilleus or Achilleus was a hero [i] of the Trojan War [i] ... 

 and convince him to return Hector Hector

In Greek mythology [i], Hector , or Hektor, was a Trojan [i] prince and one of the greatest f ... 

's body.

The Odyssey Odyssey

The Odyssey is one of the two major ancient Greek [i] epic poem [i] ... 

In Odyssey book 5, Hermes is sent to demand from Calypso Odysseus' release; in book 10 he protects Odysseus from Circe Circe

In Greek mythology [i], Circe or Krke was a goddess [i] living on the island [i] of Aeaea [i].
... 

 by bestowing upon him an herb, moly, which would protect him from her spell.

Argus/Io

Hermes, at the request of Zeus, lulled the giant Argus to sleep and rescued Io, but Hera sent a to sting Io as she wandered the earth in cow form. Zeus eventually changed Io back to human form, and she became—through Epaphus; her son with Zeus—the ancestress of Heracles Heracles

In Greek mythology [i], Heracles or Herakles was a divine hero [i], the son of Zeus [i] and ... 

.

Perseus Perseus

Perseus, Perseos, or Perseas, the legendary founder of Mycenae [i] and of the Perseid dynasty [i] ... 

Hermes aided Perseus Perseus

Perseus, Perseos, or Perseas, the legendary founder of Mycenae [i] and of the Perseid dynasty [i] ... 

 in killing the gorgon Gorgon

In Greek mythology [i], the Gorgons were vicious, mostly female monster [i]s with sharp fangs and hair o ... 

 Medusa Medusa

[i]... 

 by giving Perseus his winged sandals and Zeus Zeus

In Greek mythology [i], Zeus is the highest ranking god [i] among the Olympian gods [i] ... 

' sickle Sickle

A sickle is a curved, hand-held agricultural [i] tool [i] typically used for harvesting grain [i] ... 

. He also gave Perseus Hades' helmet of invisibility and told him to use it so that Medusa's immortal sisters could not see him. Athena Athena

In Greek mythology [i], Athena was the goddess of wisdom [i], weaving [i], crafts [i], and war [i]. ... 

 helped Perseus as well by lending him her polished shield.

Prometheus Prometheus

In Greek mythology [i], Prometheus, or Satan' is the Titan [i] chiefly honored for stealing ... 

In the ancient play Prometheus Bound Prometheus Bound

Prometheus Bound is an Ancient Greek play [i]. ... 

, attributed to Aeschylus Aeschylus

Aeschylus was a playwright [i] of ancient Greece [i].
... 

, Zeus sends Hermes to confront the enchained Titan Prometheus about a prophecy of the Titan's that Zeus would be overthrown. Hermes scolds Prometheus for being unreasonable and willing to endure torture, but Prometheus refuses to give him details about the prophecy.

Herse/Aglaulus/Pandrosus

When Hermes loved Herse, one of three sisters who served Athena Athena

In Greek mythology [i], Athena was the goddess of wisdom [i], weaving [i], crafts [i], and war [i]. ... 

 as priestesses or parthenos, her jealous older sister Aglaulus stood between them. Hermes changed Aglaulus to stone. Cephalus Cephalus

There are two characters named Cephalus in Greek mythology [i]. ... 

 was the son of Hermes and Herse. Hermes had another son, Ceryx, who was said to be the offspring of either Herse or Herse's other sister, Pandrosus. With Aglaulus, Hermes was the father of Eumolpus.

Other stories

In the story of the musician Orpheus Orpheus

In Greek legend [i], Orpheus was the chief representative of the arts of song and the lyre [i] ... 

, Hermes brought Eurydice Eurydice

In Greek mythology [i], there were several characters named Eurydice. ... 

 back to Hades after Orpheus failed to bring her back to life when he looked back toward her after Hades told him not to.

Hermes helped to protect the infant god Dionysus Dionysus

Dionysus and Dionysos or Dionysius , the Thracian [i] god of wine [i], represents not only t... 

 from Hera, after Hera destroyed Dionysus' mortal mother Semele Semele

In Greek mythology [i], Semele, daughter of Cadmus [i] and Harmonia [i], was the mother of Dionysus [i] ... 

 through her jealousy that Semele had conceived an immortal son of Zeus.

Hermes changed the Minyades into bats.

Hermes learned from the Thriae the arts of fortune-telling and divination.

When the gods created Pandora Pandora

In Greek mythology [i], Pandora was the first woman, fashioned by Zeus [i] as part of the punishment of ... 

, it was Hermes who brought her to mortals and bestowed upon her a strong sense of curiosity.

King Atreus Atreus

In Greek mythology [i], King Atreus of Mycenae [i] was the son of Pelops [i] and Hippodamia [i] and fath ... 

 of Mycenae Mycenae

Mycenae , is an archaeological site [i] in Greece [i], located about 90km south-west of Athens [i] ... 

 retook the throne from his brother Thyestes using advice he received from the trickster Hermes. Thyestes agreed to give the kingdom back when the sun moved backwards in the sky, a feat that Zeus Zeus

In Greek mythology [i], Zeus is the highest ranking god [i] among the Olympian gods [i] ... 

 accomplished. Atreus retook the throne and banished Thyestes.

Hermes Trismegistus

Main article: Hermes Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus or Mercurius ter Maximus in Latin, is the syncretism [i] of the Greek [i] ... 

.

In the Hellenistic and then Greco-Roman culture of Alexandria Alexandria

Alexandria , , is the second-largest city in Egypt [i], and its largest seaport. ... 

, syncretic conflation of Hermes who with the Egyptian god of wisdom Thoth Thoth

Thoth, a Greek [i] name derived from the Egyptian * was considered one of the more ... 

 produced the figure of Hermes Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus or Mercurius ter Maximus in Latin, is the syncretism [i] of the Greek [i] ... 

, to whom a body of arcane lore was attributed. The writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus were edited and published in the Italian Renaissance Renaissance

In the traditional view, the Renaissance was understood as a historical age in Europe [i] that follo ... 

. This figure should not be confused with Greek Hermes.

Hermes Trismegistus in Islamic tradition

Antoine Faivre, in The Eternal Hermes has pointed out that Hermes Trismegistus has a place in the Islamic Islam

Islam is a monotheistic [i] religion [i] based upon the Qur'an [i], which adherents believe w ... 

 tradition, though the name Hermes does not appear in the Qur'an Qur'an

The Qur'an , is the central religious text [i] of Islam [i]. ... 

. Hagiographers and chroniclers of the first centuries of the Islamic Hegira quickly identified Hermes Trismegistus with Idris, the nabi of surahs 19.57; 21.85, whom the Arabs also identify with Enoch . Indris/Hermes is called "Thrice Wise"—Hermes Trismegistus Hermes Trismegistus

Hermes Trismegistus or Mercurius ter Maximus in Latin, is the syncretism [i] of the Greek [i] ... 

—because he was threefold: the first of the name, comparable to Thoth Thoth

Thoth, a Greek [i] name derived from the Egyptian * was considered one of the more ... 

, was a "civilizing hero," an initiator into the mysteries of the divine science and wisdom that animate the world; he carved the principles of this sacred science in hieroglyphs Egyptian hieroglyphs

are a writing system [i] used by the Ancient Egypt [i]ians, that contained a combination of logograph [i] ... 

. The second Hermes, in Babylon Babylon

Babylon was an ancient city in Mesopotamia, the ruins of which can be found in present-day Babil Province [i] ... 

, was the initiator of Pythagoras Pythagoras

Pythagoras of Samos was an Ionian [i] mathematician [i] and philosopher [i], founder of the my ... 

. The third Hermes was the first teacher of Alchemy Alchemy

Alchemy refers to both an early form of the investigation of nature [i] and an early philosophical [i]... 

. "A faceless prophet," writes the Islamicist Pierre Lory, "Hermes possesses no concrete or salient characteristics, differing in this regard from most of the major figures of the Bible and the Quran."

Hermes in popular culture

Hermes has been a symbol of Greece Greece

Greece
Greece lies at the juncture of Europe [i], Asia [i], and Africa [i]. ... 

's postal system Mail

The postal system is a system by which written document [i]s typically enclosed in envelope [i]s, and al ... 

 since 1861. See Postage stamps and postal history of Greece Postage stamps and postal history of Greece

This is a survey of the postage stamp [i]s and postal history [i] of Greece [i].
... 

.

In his 1931 novel, The Night Life of the Gods, American fantasy author and humorist Thorne Smith prominently depicted Hermes as a statue brought to life, in addition to a few other figures from Classical mythology. In the 1935 film adaptation, Hermes/Mercury was played by American actor Paul Kaye.

Hermes was played by actor Michael Gwynn in Jason and the Argonauts, 1963.

In the Walt Disney Walt Disney

Walter Elias Disney , was an American [i] film producer [i], director [i], screenwriter [i] ... 

 animated feature Hercules Hercules

Hercules is the Latin [i] name used in Rome [i] for a hero corresponding to the Greek mythological [i] ... 

, Hermes was comically voiced by musician Paul Shaffer Paul Shaffer

Paul Allen Wood Shaffer is a Canadian-American musician [i], actor [i], voice actor [i], author [i], comedian [i] ... 

.

In Andrei Konchalovsky's 1997 television adaptation of the Odyssey Odyssey

The Odyssey is one of the two major ancient Greek [i] epic poem [i] ... 

, Hermes was portrayed by actor Freddy Douglas.

Ingeborg Bachmann Prize-winning author Sten Nadolny's 1998 comic novel, The God of Impertinence, tells of Hermes being freed in the late 20th Century after being trapped in a volcano Volcano

A volcano is a geological landform [i] on the surface of the Earth [i] where magma [i] from th ... 

 for 2000 years.

The 2006 fantasy Herald Herald

A herald, or more correctly a herald of arms, is an officer of arms [i], ranking between ... 

, by N.F. Houck, is a depiction of Hermes telling his own story and history. In the novel, Hermes also retells many Greek and Roman myths from his point of view.

Many bus services in the Netherlands Netherlands

The Netherlands is the Europe [i]an part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands [i] , which is formed ... 

 are called Hermes, following his duty as a messenger.

Florists Transworld Delivery Florists' Transworld Delivery

Florists Transworld Delivery or FTD is a company based in Downers Grove, Illinois [i] in the United States [i] ... 

  use Hermes as a company symbol.

Notes


External links

  • stories from original sources & images from classical art
  • : a table drawn up from Michael Ventris and John Chadwick, Documents in Mycenaean Greek second edition
  • : Features Hermes leading a Greek youth on a tour of Mythical Greece.

References

  • Walter Burkert, 1985. Greek Religion,
  • Antoine Faivre, 1995.The Eternal Hermes : From Greek God to Alchemical Magus translated by Josceleyn Godwin ISBN 0-933999-52-6.
  • Lewis Hyde, Trickster Makes This World: Mischief, Myth, and Art