God
Hermes
Messenger of the gods, guide of souls, and patron of travelers in Greek mythology.
Hermes is the Olympian messenger god and son of Zeus and the nymph Maia, daughter of the Titan Atlas. Born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, he demonstrated his trickster nature on the day of his birth by stealing the cattle of Apollo. Hermes serves as the divine messenger, psychopomp (guide of souls to the underworld), patron of travelers, thieves, and merchants. He carries the caduceus (a staff entwined with two serpents), wears winged sandals, and wears a winged helmet. His Roman equivalent is Mercury.
Quick facts
- Pantheon
- Greek
- Figure type
- God
- Period
- Attested from the 8th century BCE; possibly pre-Greek in Arcadia
- Primary sources
- Homeric Hymn 4 (To Hermes) 1–580; Homer Iliad 24.334–448; Apollodorus Bibliotheca 3.10.2; Homer Odyssey 5.43–148
- Related figures
- zeus, apollo, atlas, pan, odysseus
Birth and theft of Apollo's cattle
The Homeric Hymn to Hermes (580 lines, c. 650 BCE) is the most detailed account of Hermes's mythology. On the day of his birth in a cave on Mount Cyllene, the infant Hermes wrapped himself in swaddling bands, left the cave, and immediately stole fifty cattle belonging to Apollo, devising special sandals to conceal his footprints. He also invented the lyre by stringing a tortoise shell with strings. When Apollo discovered the theft, Hermes enchanted him with lyre-music; Apollo was so delighted that he accepted the lyre as payment for the cattle (Hymn 4.435–512). This myth establishes Hermes as the inventor of both the lyre and the art of the deal.
Psychopomp and messenger
Hermes's roles as divine messenger and guide of souls are prominent throughout the Odyssey and Iliad. In Odyssey 24.1–14, he herds the shades of the dead suitors down to the underworld, carrying his golden staff. In Iliad 24, Zeus sends Hermes to guide King Priam safely through the Greek camp to ransom Hector's body from Achilles. In the Odyssey, Hermes delivers Zeus's command to Calypso ordering her to release Odysseus (Odyssey 5.43–148). He is also the deity who gave Odysseus the herb moly as protection against Circe's magic (Odyssey 10.277–307).
Sources & further reading (2)
- primary-source — accessed 2026-05-06
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-06
Frequently asked questions
What is the caduceus of Hermes?
The caduceus (Greek: kerykeion) is the staff of Hermes, typically depicted as a winged wand entwined by two serpents. It is the badge of his role as divine herald and messenger. The caduceus should be distinguished from the Rod of Asclepius (a single serpent on an unwinged staff), which is the symbol of medicine. Confusion between the two has led to the widespread but historically inaccurate use of the caduceus as a medical symbol, particularly in the United States.
What does Hermes carry and wear?
In ancient art and ancient descriptions, Hermes is typically shown carrying the caduceus (herald's staff entwined with two serpents), wearing winged sandals (talaria) that enable him to fly, and wearing the petasos (a broad-brimmed traveler's hat, sometimes winged). He is also depicted with a winged helmet. These attributes emphasise his roles as messenger, traveler, and guide between realms. The Homeric Hymn to Hermes (4) describes him fashioning his winged sandals on the day of his birth.
