Hermes

By J.R.

Hermes was the messenger god who showed his abilities and contributions to the Greek civilization.  Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia a Titan, and Zeus had many other children that were Hermes’ brothers and sisters such as: Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, and Dionysus.  Hermes had many of the same characteristics as the Roman god Mercury including a hat and sandals which both had small wings on them.  Hermes also had a wand that he had received by bargaining with his older brother Apollo.  He had a cape that he wore with many magic tricks and secrets.  Hermes was a dream god, god of roads and doorways, god of travelers, merchants, business, good luck, and thieves, but mainly Hermes was the messenger god, the Herald of the Heavens.  Hermes brought down important messages that gods sent from Olympus to the Greek people.  Although Hades did not live on Mount Olympus, he still sent Hermes to take the soles of humans down to the under world; he was the conductor of the under world for Hades.  People would thank Hermes when they would find treasure, money, or goodies.  In one of the myths, Hermes was a newborn babe and had just stolen fifty sheep from his older brother Apollo, which caused a big fight between the brothers; one of the lessons that the myth gave forth, was that people should not lie or steal.  Hermes was very important to the Greek culture because he brought down important news from the gods to the humans.  He was also important because he had brought new inventions down to the Greeks.  He lead the Greeks to the underworld so that they could go to the afterlife.  Travelers today put up piles of rocks along the road, and they have believed that Hermes stands inside the rocks guiding them to where they want to go.  Hermes played a very important role in the Greek culture and helped the Greeks move their culture along by giving them technology.

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