Fast Facts on Hermes
The ancient Greeks once worshiped a pantheon of gods, who they believed held power over their lives. They revered Zeus as the mighty leader, Aphrodite as the goddess of love and Mars as the god of war. This religious influence was so strong that it carried over into Roman tradition and survives as modern myth. One important god was Hermes, known as Mercury to the Romans.
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Description
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Born of Zeus and the mountain nymph Maia, Hermes was worshiped as the herald of the gods, with the gift of eloquent speech.
Speed
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Hermes was the speediest of the gods, with wings on his sandals and often, on his helmet and shoulders as well. He could visit Heaven, Earth and the Underworld with impunity.
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Weakness
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Ever since birth, Hermes had a passion for stealing and so was also the patron god of thieves and cheaters.
Inventions
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Hermes invented the alphabet, numbers, weights, measures and music. As part of the latter, he created the lyre and plectrum by stretching strings across a tortoise shell.
Caduceus
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His symbol is the caduceus, a staff entwined by two snakes and decorated with two wings. Though originally a badge of heralds and messengers, it is now a symbol of medicine.
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References
- Photo Credit Wikimedia commons
