Greek Mythology 101: Who is Hermes?

Welcome to Greek Mythology 101! Here, we break down all of the gods, goddesses, and iconic figures of Greek mythology, helping you gain a better understanding of who everyone is. Today’s topic: the divine trickster, Hermes.

General Info

Hermes is one of the twelve Olympians, a son of Zeus, and the god of travelers and thieves. He is also the messenger of the gods, known for his winged sandals that get him anywhere he needs to go quickly. 

Hermes is depicted throughout Greek mythology as a cunning trickster. As an infant, he snuck out of his crib and stole some of Apollo’s cattle, evading punishment by crafting the first lyre out of a tortoiseshell for Apollo and amusing Zeus so much that he was immediately granted a place on Olympus.

Symbols & Sacred Animals

The most prominent symbols of Hermes are his winged sandals and caduceus. His winged sandals allowed Hermes to move with the speed of wind, crossing roads quickly and serving him well in his role as the messenger of the gods. 

Hermes is frequently depicted holding a caduceus, his staff, that had two snakes coiled around it with wings and a sphere at the top. The caduceus is often confused with the rod of Asclepius, the symbol of the god/patron of medicine, typically seen at hospitals and doctor’s offices. However, the rod of Asclepius only has one snake and though Hermes was a lot of things, he absolutely had nothing to do with medicine or doctors.

Hermes’ sacred animal is the hare, representative of the speed and agility needed to be a messenger. 

Relationships

Like most gods, Hermes had relationships with a great number of women, both divine and mortal, and a great number of children as a result. 

One of the most famous of these was his dalliance with Aphrodite, which resulted in the birth of Hermaphroditus, a child that was both man and woman. Consequently, hermaphrodite was the word used to describe intersex people before intersex became part of our vocabulary.

Hermes was also known to be a friend of demigods and heroes, assisting them in their quests. For example, he provided Odysseus with a herb that protected him against Circe and allowed Perseus to borrow his winged sandals and cap of invisibility in order to defeat Medusa.

Final Thoughts

The messenger of the gods, a trickster and a thief, Hermes is known as an eloquent speaker and cunning liar. He kept relations between the gods cordial even as he himself played games with them.

Do you feel a kinship with this god and want to represent him in your daily life? At Mythic Tees, we celebrate all of the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology, offering a variety of shirts and mugs that shine a light on their unique characteristics. Check out our full Hermes collection here!