HermesThe Messenger God

Charles Kim

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Atlas

Maia Zeus

Hermes

The Messenger GodThe Messenger God

Known in Greek as HermesKnown in Greek as Hermes

In Roman he was known as MercuryIn Roman he was known as Mercury

Mercury was the closest planet to the Mercury was the closest planet to the sun, and also had the fastest rotation sun, and also had the fastest rotation around the sunaround the sun

Like his father Zeus, Hermes had Like his father Zeus, Hermes had many affairs with different women many affairs with different women and had many childrenand had many children

Other Names and EpithetsOther Names and EpithetsGod of the MerchantsGod of the Merchants

God of the ThievesGod of the Thieves

God of Oratory (wit)God of Oratory (wit)

Messenger God Messenger God (along with Iris)(along with Iris)

God of SpeedGod of Speed

The helping God The helping God (helped many heroes (helped many heroes with their difficult with their difficult tasktask

Other Names and Epithets Other Names and Epithets contcont

God of animal husbandryGod of animal husbandry

Guide of the deadGuide of the dead

God of inventionGod of invention

God of Commerce in GeneralGod of Commerce in General

God of AthleticsGod of Athletics

God of Weights and MeausuresGod of Weights and Meausures

Hermes the EnforcerHermes the Enforcer

Responsibilities and RolesResponsibilities and Roles

Messenger God Messenger God –– Send Send messengers between messengers between Gods and Gods or Gods and Gods or Gods and peopleGods and people

Protect thievesProtect thieves

Said to have been the Said to have been the inventor of fireinventor of fire

Guide to the Guide to the underworldunderworld

His Symbols –CrocusHis Symbols –Crocus

http://the-meaning-of-flowers.blogspot.com/2008/08/meaning-of-flowers-c.html

Krokus was a mortal Krokus was a mortal man who once man who once played a game of played a game of discus with Hermes. discus with Hermes. In the game Hermes In the game Hermes accidentally kills accidentally kills Krokus. In distraught Krokus. In distraught Hermes transforms Hermes transforms Krokus’ body into a Krokus’ body into a flower.flower.

Strawberry TreeStrawberry Tree

The Strawberry tree The Strawberry tree is considered a is considered a sacred tree.sacred tree.

It is believed that It is believed that Hermes was born Hermes was born under these under these strawberry type strawberry type trees in trees in Mount Mount Kyllini Kyllini

Scared: Strawberry Tree

http://www.midvalleytrees.com/products.asp?cat=53&hierarchy=0

Scared AnimalsScared Animals

The first day he The first day he was born he was born he invented the lyre invented the lyre using a tortoise using a tortoise shellshell

http://ivorytortoise.com/price/description/african_spurred_tortoise.html

CattleCattle

Hermes stole these Hermes stole these animals from Apollo in animals from Apollo in a clever waya clever wayWhen Apollo found that When Apollo found that his cattle was missing his cattle was missing he was outraged but he was outraged but could not track who could not track who stole itstole itEventually Hermes Eventually Hermes confessed, but when confessed, but when Apollo heard Hermes Apollo heard Hermes offered to exchange the offered to exchange the lyre for his herd lyre for his herd

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=478492

His Attributes-Hermes Winged His Attributes-Hermes Winged BootsBoots

Hermes is always Hermes is always depicted with his depicted with his winged bootswinged boots

Hermes lent these Hermes lent these boots of flight to boots of flight to Perseus to aid him Perseus to aid him in slaying Medusain slaying Medusa

Hermes’ Winged Boots

www.hellenicsociety.org.uk

Cap of HermesCap of Hermes

Hermes’ hat was said Hermes’ hat was said to grant the wearer to grant the wearer invisibility invisibility

Hermes let Perseus Hermes let Perseus borrow his helmet of borrow his helmet of invisibility to slay invisibility to slay MedusaMedusa

Shepherd’s PipeShepherd’s Pipe

Hermes created the Hermes created the shepherd’s pipeshepherd’s pipeApollo heard the pipe and Apollo heard the pipe and felt he too should have felt he too should have this pipethis pipeHe offered to trade in his He offered to trade in his rod for the piperod for the pipeHermes thinking that his Hermes thinking that his offer was not enough offer was not enough wanted morewanted moreApollo agreed to these Apollo agreed to these termsterms http://www.nma.gov.au/cook/

images/collection/detail/247.jpg

Herald’s Rod of HermesHerald’s Rod of Hermes

This golden rod may This golden rod may have been Apollo’s, have been Apollo’s, Zeus may have given Zeus may have given it to him when he it to him when he appointed him as his appointed him as his official messengerofficial messenger

The wand was always The wand was always carried with himcarried with him

http://www.geocities.com/medea19777/hermes.html

Blade of HermesBlade of Hermes

Hermes had a Hermes had a blade that he blade that he lent Perseus lent Perseus along with his along with his cap of invisibilitycap of invisibility

Perseus used this Perseus used this sword to cut off sword to cut off Medusa’s headMedusa’s head

Perseus, with Hermes’ blade

Source: http://ancienthistory.about.com

Hermes Blade

Scared PlacesScared Places

Mount Kyllini or Mount Cyllene Mount Kyllini or Mount Cyllene because it was his birth placebecause it was his birth place

2374 m (7789 ft)2374 m (7789 ft)

He is said in mostHe is said in mostcases to have beencases to have beenborn in a cave or born in a cave or under a strawberryunder a strawberrytreetree

www.territorioscuola.com

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

Hermes was the youngest of all the Hermes was the youngest of all the OlympiadsOlympiadsGave us the word hermeneutics, Gave us the word hermeneutics, which means the “interpretation of which means the “interpretation of literary textsliterary textsIt possibly comes from ‘herma’ or a It possibly comes from ‘herma’ or a heap of stones from early times. He heap of stones from early times. He was represented by craved stock in was represented by craved stock in stone. However it is possible this stone. However it is possible this identification is the other way around. identification is the other way around.

BibliographyBibliography

Picture (drawing title page)Picture (drawing title page)– http://eydelman.elfwood.com/hermes.jpg.hhttp://eydelman.elfwood.com/hermes.jpg.h

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http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HermesTreasures.html#RodHermesTreasures.html#Rod

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/monsters/ig/Medusa---Pictures-of-monsters/ig/Medusa---Pictures-of-Medusa/Medusa.htmMedusa/Medusa.htm