Before

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Before

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Before

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There was Hermes

The Messenger of the Gods 

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Mercury

(Roman Name)

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Birth Story:  Zeus impregnated Maia in the middle of the night while all the other deities were asleep.  Hermes was born at the break of dawn in a cave on Mt. Cyllene in Arcadia.^[6]

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Zeus and Maia with Hermes

Parents and Children:  Zeus and Maia were the parents of Hermes.  Zeus was the son of Chronos and Rhea, and became the king of the gods after defeating the Titans.  Maia was the daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and one of the seven Pleiades (daughters of Atlas and Pleione).  Abderus, a companion of Heracles, Hermaphroditus, an androgynous (having male and female characteristics) deity, and Pan, the half man half goat, were the children of Hermes.^[8] 

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Job Description:  Hermes was responsible for commerce, travel, public speaking, thievery, wrestling, shepherds,^[10] diplomacy, hospitality, astrology, literature, athletics, persuasion, astronomy, merchants, measures, roads, gymnastics, and animal husbandry^[11].  Additionally, Hermes was messenger of the gods, specifically the herald of Zeus (his official messenger)^[12]. 

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Symbols:  The symbols of Hermes are the the tortoise, cattle, the winged helmet, winged sandals, purses, the lyre (given to Apollo), the planet Mercury, and his heralds staff.  The tortoise became a symbol of Hermes because he made the lyre using a tortoise shell, cattle became a symbol because Hermes stole Apollo's cattle, he wore a winged helmet and winged sandals so they both portrayed Hermes, purses became one of his symbols because he was the god of thievery, the lyre was a symbol of Hermes because he created it, the planet Mercury became a symbol of Hermes when the Romans began to call him Mercury, and his heralds staff became a major symbol because he always carried it around with him. ^[15]

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Infant Hermes, Maia, Apollo, and the stolen cattle

Major Story:  It is said that the cunningness of Hermes was first displayed on the day he was born.  When Maia fell asleep, Hermes snuck out of the cave they were in and went to explore the world.  As he was wandering, he discovered a herd of cattle belonging to his half-brother, Apollo.  Hermes decided to take the finest ones back to the cave with him.^[17]  Then, he covered up their tracks to erase any evidence that he had stolen the cows.  On the way back to the cave, Hermes found a tortoise and removed its insides, leaving the shell.  Additionally, he took the intestines of one of the cows he stole and strung the tortoise shell with them, creating the lyre.^[18]  Apollo became very upset when he noticed that his finest cattle were missing.  He offered a reward to anyone with information.  After a while, one man commented that he had heard music coming from a cave.  Apollo was desperate for some clue to where his cattle were, so he went and investigated the cave.  At the entrance he saw two cow hides, and then saw Hermes sleeping in Maia's arms.  Even though Hermes was just a newborn, Apollo still accused him of stealing the cattle.  Maia told him that this was absurd, but Hermes admitted that he stole the cows.  All of the cattle were alive except two, which Hermes killed as a sacrifice to the gods of Mt. Olympus.^[19]  Then, Zeus arrived at the seen and suggested that no harm was done if Hermes returned the cattle and promised never to steal again.  Everyone consented but just before Apollo was about to leave with the cattle, Hermes began playing the lyre.  The music enchanted Apollo and he asked if Hermes would give him the lyre in return for letting Hermes keep the cattle.  Hermes agreed and the two soon became great friends.^[20]