Hermes
By Chris Giuliano and Taylor
Veracka
Hermes God OF:
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Animal Herding
Roads
Thievery
Language
Writing
Persuasion
Athletic contests
•Travel
•Hospitality
•Heralds
•Diplomacy
•Trade
•Gymnasiums
•Astronomy
•Astrology
Hermes is the herald and
messenger of the gods and guides
the dead to the Underworld.
Other Names
• Hermes was also called Mercury,
Psychopompos, Logios, Diactoros, and
Agonios
Family
• Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia.
Maia was the daughter of Atlas, and the
niece of Prometheus and Epimetheus.
• His children, who he had with Aphrodite,
were Tyche, Rhodos, Peitho, Eunomia,
and Hermaphroditus.
• He also had Pan and
Abderus with Dryope.
Appearance
• Hermes is described as looking like a
young man wearing a hat and winged
shoes.
• He carries a golden herald wand.
• His symbol is his herald staff or caduceus.
Story of Birth
• Hermes was born in a cave on Mount
Cyllene. The same day he was born he
stole cows from Apollo and drove them
across Greece. Also on that day he
invented the lyre out of an empty tortoise
shell and cow intestines.
• During the trial between him and Apollo
about his stolen cows, he stole Apollo’s
quiver and bow.
Hermes saves Odysseus from
Calypso
• Zeus sent Hermes to Calypso’s Island to
free Odysseus. Calypso had captured him,
and promised him immortality if Odysseus
married her.
Hermes Saves Odysseus from
Circe
• While Odysseus was on Circe’s island,
Hermes appeared to him and warned him
about Circe’s spells and told him how to
resist them. Otherwise, Odysseus would
have been turned into a pig.
Hermes Saves Zeus
• Typhon had stolen Zeus’s tendons while
they were fighting. Hermes stole them
back and replaced them in Zeus’s body,
giving him his strength back. Zeus was
then able to defeat Typhon.
Contemporary Hermes
Because Hermes is the God of speed and travel, a flower
company uses Hermes and his winged shoes as their
logo.
Because he is the god of commerce, a financial group
named their company after him.
Because he is the god of hospitality, a hotel is named after
him.
Contemporary Hermes (continued)
• The Hauppauge Cross-Country team uses
his winged shoes as their logo.
• His Caduceus is a symbol for American
medicine.
Bibliography
Atsma, Aaron J. "Hermes." THEOI GREEK MYTHOLOGY, Exploring
Mythology & the Greek Gods in Classical Literature & Art. Web. 05 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.theoi.com/>.
Burke, Nikki. "Greek and Roman World Mythology: The Olympian
God Hermes." World Mythology, Folklore, Cultures and Classical Studies. 3
Jan. 2008. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://www.gods-herosmyth.com/godpages/hermes.html>.
Cotterell, Arthur. "Hermes." The Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of
Myths and Legends. New York: Marshal Editions Limited, 1989. Print.
"Greek Gods Family Tree / Genealogy." Ludios.org. Web. 05
Nov. 2010. <http://ludios.org/greekgods/>.
Leadbetter, Ron. "Hermes." Encyclopedia Mythica: Mythology, Folklore, and
Religion. Web. 05 Nov. 2010. <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hermes.html>.