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Miscellaneous Myths: Hermes

Overly Sarcastic Productions・2 minutes read

Hermes, or Mercury to the Romans, was a multifaceted Greek god associated with various roles like messenger, underworld guide, and supporter of heroes, showcasing cunning and trickery throughout his myths. His evolution from an older bearded figure to a youthful, beardless one, as well as his syncretism with other deities in different cultures, reflects his enduring appeal due to his representation of speed, likable traits, and relevance to various aspects of society like trade and communication.

Insights

  • Hermes, also known as Mercury, was a multifaceted Greek god associated with various domains like roads, merchants, and guiding the dead, embodying roles as a messenger, underworld guide, and psychopomp, showcasing his diverse influence in ancient mythology.
  • The evolution of Hermes from an older, bearded figure to a youthful, beardless deity akin to Dionysus, along with his syncretism with Roman and other cultures' gods, underlines his adaptability and enduring appeal, rooted in traits like speed, versatility, and relevance to crucial aspects of society like communication and commerce.

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Recent questions

  • Who is Hermes?

    A Greek god associated with various roles.

  • What is a psychopomp?

    A guide of souls to the afterlife.

  • What is the significance of Hermes's lyre?

    A musical instrument crafted from a tortoise shell.

  • How did Hermes earn the epithet "Argus slayer"?

    By killing the hundred-eyed giant Argus.

  • What is the connection between Hermes and Pan?

    Hermes emerged from Pan in Greek mythology.

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Summary

00:00

"Hermes: God of Roads and Trickery"

  • Hermes, also known as Mercury to the Romans, was a Greek god associated with roads, journeys, merchants, thieves, athletes, trickery, and guiding the souls of the dead.
  • Hermes was recognized as a messenger god, an underworld god, and a psychopomp, with additional roles in guiding dreams and assisting mortal heroes.
  • Hermes, born to the pleiad Maia and Zeus, displayed cunning and trickery from his birth, stealing Apollo's cattle and playing a lyre made from a tortoise shell.
  • Apollo discovered Hermes's theft, leading to a humorous encounter where Hermes wins Apollo's favor through music and cunning, becoming the messenger of the gods.
  • Hermes played supporting roles in the Iliad and the Odyssey, aiding King Priam and Odysseus, respectively, showcasing his assistance to heroes.
  • Hermes's notable accomplishment includes killing the hundred-eyed giant Argus, earning him the epithet "Argeiphontes" or "Argus slayer."
  • Hermes frequently assisted heroes like Perseus and Orestes with invisibility and trickery, embodying his role as the god of liars and thieves.
  • Hermes's influence on Greek heroes, including Odysseus, highlights the value of trickery as a heroic trait, often leading to success through cunning.
  • The historical connection between Hermes and Pan reveals that Hermes emerged from Pan, a wild god associated with forests, mountains, and shepherds.
  • The concept of Herms, boundary markers with Hermes's head, originated from Pan's worship, symbolizing the transition from Pan to Hermes as a more widely revered deity.

10:03

"Versatile Hermes: God of Speed and Commerce"

  • The phrase "Thamus Panmegas tethneke" in Greek could be interpreted as "Thamus, Pan the great is dead!" or "Tammuz the all-great is dead!" due to the prefix "Pan" meaning "all", possibly stemming from sailors mishearing praises of Tammuz as news of Pan's death.
  • In ancient Greece, Hermes initially resembled Pan, depicted as an older bearded man in the Archaic Age but later transformed into a youthful, beardless, and mostly naked figure in Classical and Hellenistic Greece, similar to Dionysus.
  • Mercury, the Roman equivalent of Hermes, absorbed minor Roman deities related to profit but essentially was just the Roman name for Hermes, popular due to Rome's focus on trade and commerce, leading to syncretism with other cultures' gods like Lugus and Odin.
  • Hermes was syncretized with various gods by different cultures, such as Thoth and Anubis by the Ptolemaic Greeks, remaining a versatile and enduring figure possibly due to his representation of speed, likable traits, and relevance to medicine, communication, and capitalism in societies.
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