Episode 16: Hermes, the Messenger of the Gods

 

 

📑 Table of Contents

1. Where do the origins of Hermes begin?
2. The Birth of a Mischievous God
3. Duties as the Messenger of the Gods
4. Symbols Governed by Hermes
5. The Hermes We Encounter Today

📌 Appendix: Zeus and His Children

📋 Main Characters

• Hermes: God of messengers. Guardian of commerce, travel, thieves, language, and boundaries. Often depicted with winged sandals and a staff.
• Maia: One of the Pleiades, mother of Hermes. Gave birth to him in a quiet, shaded mountain cave.
• Zeus: Father of Hermes. Recognized his abilities and appointed him as the messenger.
• Apollo: God of music and prophecy. First target of Hermes’ prank, later reconciles and gifts him the caduceus.

1. Where do the origins of Hermes begin?

Hermes was born of Zeus and the nymph Maia. Maia, daughter of the Titan Atlas, was a quiet, reclusive beauty. Preferring solitude in a cave on Mount Cyllene, she avoided the company of other gods.

Zeus, unlike other gods drawn to loudness and spectacle, was captivated by Maia's mysterious calm. Secretly visiting her cave, their union resulted in the birth of Hermes.

Maia, not seeking attention or drama, decided to raise her child quietly in seclusion. Thus, Hermes began his mythic life from the very day he was born—one destined to embody movement, communication, and the crossing of boundaries.

2. The Birth of a Mischievous God

Newborn Hermes cast off his swaddling clothes and slipped out of the cave without making a sound. He wandered freely, exploring the world under the cover of darkness. During his journey, he discovered Apollo’s sacred cattle and devised a cunning plan.

He reversed the footprints of the cattle in the sand and led them into a hidden forest, masking all traces of theft. Even Apollo was initially unable to follow the trail.

That night, before returning, Hermes encountered a turtle. He hollowed out its shell and used it as the body of an instrument, stringing it with sinews from the stolen cattle to create the world’s first lyre. The music was unlike anything heard before.

Days later, Apollo traced the stolen cattle to Maia’s cave. Though Hermes initially feigned ignorance, he ultimately confessed and played his lyre. Enchanted by the sound, Apollo forgave him and accepted the lyre as a gift. In return, he gave Hermes the golden caduceus, a symbol of peace and mediation.

This event marked the division of roles between the two gods—Apollo as patron of music and arts, and Hermes as the god of negotiation, travel, and wit.

3. Duties as the Messenger of the Gods

Hermes was more than just a messenger. He traversed boundaries between gods and mortals, Olympus and the underworld. With swift feet, articulate speech, and agile thought, Zeus appointed him as the official envoy of the gods.

Hermes delivered commands to Ares, guided souls to Hades, and maintained divine communication across all realms.

4. Symbols Governed by Hermes

Hermes held a multitude of roles, and thus, many powerful symbols represented him:

• Caduceus: A staff with two intertwined serpents, symbolizing harmony, communication, and divine authority.
• Talaria (Winged Sandals): Representing speed and freedom of movement.
• Petasos (Wide-Brimmed Hat): Protective headgear for travelers and merchants.
• Coin Pouch: Symbolizing commerce, negotiation, and occasionally trickery or gain.
• Lyre: The instrument he created, symbolizing wit, invention, and mediation through music.
• Hermai (Stone Cairns): Trail markers representing guidance, protection, and sacred boundaries.

Among these, the caduceus is most iconic. The two serpents embody duality—life and death, light and shadow—while the wings symbolize Hermes’ swiftness and freedom to move between realms. Ironically, the U.S. Army Medical Corps later adopted the caduceus as a medical emblem—a historically incorrect yet globally recognized misinterpretation.

Hermes’ coin pouch hints at his dual guardianship of merchants and thieves—an ever-present figure at the threshold of honesty and deception.

His creation of the lyre and its gifting to Apollo highlights his wit and peacemaking abilities. The Hermai, built at crossroads and city entrances, were more than markers—they were sacred guardians of direction and safety.

5. The Hermes We Encounter Today

Even now, Hermes lives on as a symbol of movement, communication, and boundary mediation. His spirit permeates not only religion and art, but modern technology, media, and psychology.

The term "Herald," often used in newspaper names, stems from medieval messengers and mirrors Hermes’ essence—quick and accurate transmission of information.

Several logistics and communication companies use icons like winged shoes or helmets in their logos to evoke speed and connectivity. Even Naver once employed a winged motif resembling Hermes’ symbols.

In psychology, Hermes represents the connector between the unconscious and conscious, acting as a metaphor for transformative communication. Far from being a relic, Hermes remains an active conceptual messenger linking people and worlds.

📌 Appendix: Zeus and His Children

Partner	Child(ren)	Description
Maia	Hermes	Messenger of the gods, deity of wisdom and speed
Leto	Apollo, Artemis	God of light and prophecy, goddess of the hunt and chastity
Metis	Athena	Goddess of wisdom and war
Hera	Hebe, Eileithyia, Ares	Goddess of youth, childbirth, and war
Demeter	Persephone	Goddess of seasons and life
Alcmene	Heracles	Symbol of heroism, mortal who ascended to Olympus