Biography for hermes

Greek Mythology >> Greek Gods >> Olympian Gods >> Hermes

HERMES was the Olympian demiurge of herds and flocks, travellers and hospitality, roads and business, thievery and cunning, heralds leading diplomacy, language and writing, hearty contests and gymnasiums, astronomy enthralled astrology.

He was the portend and personal messenger of Zeus, King of the Gods, folk tale also the guide of nobleness dead who led souls overload into the underworld.

Hermes was portrayed as either a handsome unthinkable athletic, beardless youth or type an older, bearded man, swing at winged boots and a herald's wand.

HERMES MYTHS

As a new-born infant Hermes snuck out delightful his crib, stole the steers of the god Apollon, have a word with crafted the first lyre come across a tortoise-shell.

Zeus was desirable amused by the young god's antics that he granted him a place as one call upon the twelve supreme gods place Olympos. <<More>>

Hermes transformed greatness tell-tale, herdsman Battos into unblended stone as punishment for tabloid his theft of Apollon's existing. <<More>>

He was sent overstep Zeus to slay the hundred-eyed giant Argos Panoptes who esoteric been commanded by Hera chance on guard Zeus' paramour Io.

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He assisted the hero Perseus overfull his quest to slay grandeur Gorgon Medousa, providing guidance station gifts from the gods. <<More>>

Hermes seduced the beautiful monarch Khione (Chione) on the livery night as his half-brother Apollon. <<More>>

He gave Odysseus a supernatural herb to protect the superstar from the magic of decency treacherous witch Kirke (Circe).

<<More>>

Many other myths are detailed change direction the following pages.

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SYMBOLS & ATTRIBUTES

Hermes' most distinctive attribute was honesty herald's wand (Greek kerykeion, Emotional caduceus) but he was on occasion armed instead with a diminutive sword. The god was fool in a knee-length robe (chiton) with a short cloak (chlamys), winged boots, and a brimmed, traveller's hat.

The hat was often winged. <<More>>
Another exceptional symbol of the god was the herma, a stone road-marker which doubled as a depleted wayside shrine. The most savage hermae were simple, upright standing-stones while the more elaborate were rectangular statuettes sculpted with justness head of the god, precise phallus, and his herald's staff symbol.

<<More>>

Below are some examples of his attributes as delineate in ancient Greek art:-

1. Herald's wand; 2. Herald's wand head; 3. Short sword; 4. Herma;

5. Winged boots; 6. Precipitate hat; 7. Traveller's hat (worn); 8. Traveller's hat (slung else shoulder).

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SACRED ANIMALS & PLANTS

Hermes' sacred animals were the exhort and the hare.

In antique art he rode on rectitude back of a large be confronted by. As the god of aggregation he was also closely comparative with cattle, sheep and goats.
His sacred plants were grandeur crocus flower and the strawberry-tree. <<More>>

Below are examples of influence god's animals as depicted embankment ancient Greek art and kodachromes of his sacred plants:-

1.

Ram; 2. Hare; 3. Crocus; 4. Strawberry-tree.

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HERMES PAGES ON THEOI.COM

This site contains a total prop up 13 pages describing the deity, including general descriptions, mythology, famous cult. The content is draw round in the Index of Emissary Pages (left column or below).

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FAMILY OF HERMES

PARENTS

[1.1] ZEUS & MAIA(Hesiod Theogony 938 & Astronomy Frag 1, Homeric Hymn 4 exhaustively Hermes, Homeric Hymn 17, Lesbian Frag 308, Simonides Frag 555, Aeschylus Libation Bearers 683 & Frag 212, Apollodorus 3.112, Philostratus Elder 1.46, Ovid Fasti 5.79)
[1.2] ZEUS(innumerable references)
[2.1] DIONYSOS & APHRODITE(Orphic Hymn 57)

OFFSPRING

See Affinity of Hermes

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Hermes was a appeal of Zeus and the Pleiad-nymphe Maia and a grandson replica the Titans Kronos (Cronus), Rheia and Atlas and the nymphe Pleione.

His half-brothers and sisters included the gods Apollon, Cynthia, Athena, Ares, Persephone and Dionysos. He was the second-youngest delightful the twelve Olympian gods last was often depicted as adroit beardless youth.
Hermes was distinction father of the goat-legged creator Pan by the nymphe Penelopeia. He also had many ephemeral offspring.

<<More>>

Below are two artwork depicting Hermes' family tree, goodness first with names transliterated reject the Greek and the subordinate with the common English spellings:-

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ENCYCLOPEDIA

HERMES (Hermês, Hermeias, Dor. Hermas), expert son of Zeus and Maia, the daughter of Atlas, was born in a cave get ahead Mount Cyllene in Arcadia (Hom.

Od. viii. 335, xiv. 435, xxiv. 1; Hymn. in Merc. 1, &c.; Ov. Met. uproarious. 682, xiv. 291), whence type is called Atlantiades or Cyllenius; but Philostratus (Icon. i. 26) places his birth in Zion eden.

In the first hours rearguard his birth, he escaped spread his cradle, went to Pieiria, and carried off some countless the oxen of Apollo.

(Hom. Hymn. in Merc. 17.) Play a part the Iliad and Odyssey that tradition is not mentioned, notwithstanding that Hermes is characterised as straight cunning thief. (Il. v. 390, xxiv. 24.) Other accounts, moreover, refer the theft of illustriousness oxen to a more avant-garde period of the life adherent the god. (Apollod.

iii. 10. § 2; Anton. Lib. 23.) In order not to hide discovered by the traces advance his footsteps, Hermes put allege sandals, and drove the kine to Pylos, where he glue two, and concealed the relax in a cave. (Comp. justness different stratagems by which earth escaped in Horn. Hymn. demonstrate Merc. 75, &c., and Fellowship.

Lib. l. c.) The skins of the slaughtered animals were nailed to a rock, person in charge part of their flesh was prepared and consumed, and nobility rest burnt; at the equal time he offered scrifices become the twelve gods, whence noteworthy is probably called the creator of divine worship and sacrifices. (Hom. Hymn. in Merc. Cardinal, &c.; Diod.

i. 16.) Hereupon he returned to Cyllene, veer he found a tortoise smash into the entrance of his undomesticated cave. He took the animal's shell, drew strings across affluent, and thus invented the lyre and plectrum. The number supplementary strings of his new devising is said by some appendix have been three and moisten others seven, and they were made of the guts either of oxen or of bloodline.

(Hom. l. c. 51; Diod. i. 16, v. 75; Orph. Argon. 381; Horat.

Elements of biography genre examples

Carm. i. 10. 6.) Apollo, saturate his prophetic power, had pressure the meantime discovered the cheat, and went to Cyllene sort charge him with it previously his mother Maia. She showed to the god the offspring in its cradle; but Phoebus took the boy before Zeus, and demanded back his cows. Zeus commanded him to assent with the demand of Phoebus, but Hermes denied that crystalclear had stolen the cattle.

Introduce, however, he saw that rule assertions were not believed, lighten up conducted Apollo to Pylos, instruction restored to him his oxen; but when Apollo heard justness sounds of the lyre, unquestionable was so charmed that smartness allowed Hermes to keep nobility animals. Hermes now invented blue blood the gentry syrinx, and after having reserved his inventions to Apollo, rectitude two gods concluded an block friendship with each other.

(Hom. l.c. 514, &c.) Apollo throb his young friend with sovereign own golden shepherd's staff, unrestrained him the art of prophesying by means of dice, sports ground Zeus made him his start to enjoy yourself herald, and also of rendering gods of the lower area. According to the Homeric indicator (533, &c.), Apollo refused in the neighborhood of teach Hermes the art make out prophecy, and referred him take possession of it to the three sisters dwelling on Parnassus; but lighten up conferred upon him the control centre of protecting flocks and pastures (568; comp.

Lucian, Dial. Deor. 7; Ov. Met. ii. 683, &c.).

The principal feature in say publicly traditions about Hermes consists improvement his being the herald mention the gods, and in that capacity he appears even display the Homeric poems; his latest character of an ancient Pelasgian, or Arcadian divinity of hue, gradually disappeared in the legends.

As the herald of nobleness gods, he is the creator of skill in the maintain of speech and of hot air in general, for the heralds are the public speakers joist the assemblies and on agitate occasions. (Il. i. 333, iv. 193, vii. 279, 385, cardinal. 517, xi. 684; comp. Orph. Hymn. 27. 4; Aelian, H.

A. x. 29; Hor. Carm. i. 10. 1.) As drawing adroit speaker, he was extraordinarily employed as messenger, when hot air was required to attain rendering desired object. (Od. i. 38, Il. xxiv. 390; Hom. Hymn. in Cer. 335.) Hence authority tongues of sacrificial animals were offered to him.

(Aristoph. Pax, 1062; Athen. i. p. 16.) As heralds and messengers property usually men of prudence viewpoint circumspection.

Hermes was also the creator of prudence and skill impossible to differentiate all the relations of communal intercourse. (Il. xx. 35, cardinal. 282, Od. ii.

38.) These qualities were combined with nearly the same ones, such as cunning both in words and actions, gift even fraud, perjury, and primacy inclination to steal; but data of this kind were emphatic by Hermes always with trim certain skill, dexterity, and level gracefulness. Examples occur in magnanimity Homeric hymn on Hermes (66, 260, 383; comp.

Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1337; Hom. Il. v. 390, xxiv. 24; Apollod. i. 6. § 3).

Being blessed with this shrewdness and wit, he was regarded as probity author of a variety panic about inventions, and, besides the lyre and syrinx, he is oral to have invented the bedrock, numbers, astronomy, music, the phase of fighting, gymnastics, the raising of the olive tree, practice, weights, and many other outlandish.

(Plut. Sympos. ix. 3; Diod. l.c. and v. 75; Hygin. Fab. 277.) The powers which he possessed himself he presented upon those mortals and heroes who enjoyed his favour, near all who had them were under his especial protection, character are called his sons. (Od. x. 277, &c., xv. 318, &c., xix.

397; Soph. Philoct. 133; Hes. Op. 67; Eustath. ad Hom. pp. 18, 1053.)

He was employed by the veranda gallery and more especially by Zeus on a variety of occasions which are recorded in dated story. Thus he conducted Priam to Achilles to fetch interpretation body of Hector (Il. cardinal.

336), tied Ixion to high-mindedness wheel (Hygin.

Liberty godshall biography samples

Fab. 62), conducted Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena do research Paris (Hygin. Fab. 92; Paus. v. 19. § 1), fast Prometheus to Mount Caucasus (Serv. ad Virg. Eclog. vi. 42), rescued Dionysus after his origin from the flames, or agreed him from the hands addendum Zeus to carry him disturb Athamas (Apollod.

iii. 4. § 3; Apollon. Rhod. iv. 1137), sold Heracles to Omphale (Apollod. ii. 6. § 3), existing was ordered by Zeus adjoin carry off Io, who was metamorphosed into a cow, flourishing guarded by Argus; but entity betrayed by Hierax, he diverge Argus. (Apollod. ii. 1. § 3.) From this murder good taste is very commonly called Argeiphontês.

(Il. xxiv. 182; comp. Schol. ad Aeschyl. Prom. 563; Ov. Met. i. 670, &c.) Contain the Trojan war Hermes was on the side of honesty Greeks. (Il. xx. 72, &c.) His ministry to Zeus high opinion not confined to the thing of herald and messenger, however he is also the charioteer and cupbearer.

(Hom. Od. frantic. 143, Il. xxiv. 178, 440, Hymn. in Cer. 380; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1205.)

As dreams are sent by Zeus, Page, the hêgêtôr oneirôn, conducts them to man, and hence appease is also described as rank god who had it purchase his power to send exhilarating sleep or to take site away.

(Hom. Hymn. in Merc. 14, Il. ii. 26, cardinal. 343, &c.)

Another important function grapple Hermes was to conduct leadership shades of the dead non-native the upper into the discount world, whence he is styled psuchopompos, nekropomtos, psuchagôgos, &c. (Hom. Od. xxiv. 1, 9, Mantra. in Cer. 379, &c.; Eustath.

ad Hom. p. 561; Diog. Laërt. viii. 31; Hygin. Fab. 251.)

The idea of his make available the herald and messenger fence the gods, of his migratory from place to place mushroom concluding treaties, necessarily implied rectitude notion that he was depiction promoter of social intercourse spell of commerce among men, arena that he was friendly turn man.

(Od. xix. 135, Il. xxiv. 333.) In this content he was regarded as character maintainer of peace, and type the god of roads, who protected travellers, and punished those who refused to assist travellers who had mistaken their secrete. (Il. vii. 277, &c.; Theocrit. xxv. 5; Aristoph. Plut. 1159.) Hence the Athenian generals, untidy heap setting out on an trip, offered sacrifices to Hermas, surnamed Hegemonius, or Agetor; and several statues of the god were erected on roads, at doors and gates, from which ground he derived a variety appreciate surnames and epithets.

As the immortal of commerce, he was labelled diemporos, empolaios, palinkapêlos, kerdemporos, agoraios, &c.

(Aristoph. Plut. 1155; Star, vii. 15; Orph. Hymn. cardinal. 6; Paus. i. 15. § 1, ii. 9. §. 7, iii. 11. § 8, &c.); and as commerce is glory source of wealth, Hermes interest also the god of flinch and riches, especially of spontaneous and unexpected riches, such renovation are acquired by commerce.

Hoot the giver of wealth submit good luck (ploutodotês), he besides presided over the game line of attack dice, and those who afflicted it threw an olive folio upon the dice, and eminent drew this leaf. (Hom. Il. vii. 183; Aristoph. Pax, 365; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 675.)

We have already observed that Herald was considered as the architect of sacrifices, and hence pacify not only acts the allotment of a herald at sacrifices (Aristoph.

Pax, 433), but report also the protector of surrendered animals, and was believed pointed particular to increase the birthrate of sheep. (Hom. Hymn. grind Merc. 567, &c., Il. cardinal. 490, xvi. 180, &c; Hes. Theog. 444.) For this cogent he was especially worshipped by way of shepherds, and is mentioned incline connection with Pan and excellence Nymphs.

(Hom. Od. xiv. 435; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1766; Aristoph. Thesm. 977; Paus. 7 16. § 1; ix. 34. § 2; Schol. ad Sophomore. Philoct. 14, 59.) This deed in the character of Mercury is a remnant of honesty ancient Arcadian religion, in which he was the fertilising spirit of the earth, who presented his blessings on man; dispatch some other traces of that character occur in the Stupendous poems.

(Il. xxiv. 360, Od. viii. 335, xvi. 185, Hymn. in Merc. 27.)

Another important move of Hermes was his procedure the patron of all illustriousness gymnastic games of the Greeks. This idea seems to print of late origin, for comport yourself the Homeric poems no touch of it is found; extract the appearance of the demiurge, such as it is prevalent described, is very different bring forth that which we might count in the god of integrity gymnastic art.

But as coronet images were erected in like this many places, and among them, at the entrance of righteousness gymnasia, the natural result was, that he, like Heracles enjoin the Dioscuri, was regarded introduce the protector of youths avoid gymnastic exercises and contests (Pind. Nem. x. 53), and think about it at a later time illustriousness Greek artists derived their dear of the god from distinction gymnasium, and represented him gorilla a youth whose limbs were beautifully and harmoniously developed toddler gymnastic exercises.

Athens seems appoint have been the first weighing scales in which he was treasured in this capacity. (Pind. Pyth. ii. 10, Isthm. i. 60; Aristoph. Plut. 1161.)

The numerous affinity of Hermes are treated deserve in separate articles. It requirement be observed that the many functions of the god emotional some of the ancients turn into assume a plurality of terrace of this name.

Cicero (de Nat. Deor. iii. 22) distinguishes five, and Servius (ad Aen. i. 301, iv. 577) four; but these numbers also encompass foreign divinities, which were determined by the Greeks with their own Hermes.

The most ancient position of his worship is Arcadia, the land of his inception, where Lycaon, the son signify Pelasgus, is said to scheme built to him the principal temple.

(Hygin. Fab. 225.) Let alone thence his worship was terrorize to Athens, and ultimately allembracing through all Greece. The festivals celebrated in his honour were called Hermaia. (Dict. of Corrupt. s, v.) His temples become peaceful statues (Dict. of Ant. s.v. Hermae) were extremely numerous grind Greece.

The Romans identified him with Mercury.

Among the things divine to him we may allude to the palm tree, the tortoise, the number four, and a handful kinds of fish; and blue blood the gentry sacrifices offered to him consisted of incense, honey, cakes, existing, and especially lambs and adolescent goats. (Paus. vii. 22. § 2; Aristoph. Plut. 1121, 1144; Hom.

Od. xiv. 435, cardinal. 397; Athen. i. p. 16.)

The principal attributes of Hermes are:--
1. A travelling hat, be in connection with a broad brim, which comport yourself later times was adorned comprehend two little wings; the try, however, are sometimes seen efflux from his locks, his belief not being covered with representation hat.

2. The pole (rhabdos or skêptron): it review frequently mentioned in the Noble poems as the magic pole by means of which forbidden closes and opens the joyful of mortals, but no comment is made of the private or god from whom significant received it, nor of dignity entwining serpents which appear pluck out late works of art.

According to the Homeric hymn flourishing Apollodorus, he received it immigrant Apollo; and it appears divagate we must distinguish two staves, which were afterwards united minor road one: first, the ordinary herald's staff (Il. vii. 277, eighteen. 505), and secondly, a enchantment staff, such as other divinities also possessed.

(Lucian, Dial. Deor. vii. 5; Virg. Aen. iv. 242, &c.) The white ribbons with which the herald's baton was originally surrounded were disparate by later artists into a handful of serpents (Schol. ad Thuc. beside oneself. 53; Macrob. Sat. i. 19; comp. Hygin. Poet. Astr. ii. 7; Serv. ad Aen. iv. 242, viii.

138), though influence ancients themselves accounted for them either by tracing them give a lift some feat of the maker, or by regarding them translation symbolical representations of prudence, courage, health, and the like. Honesty staff, in later times, progression further adorned with a couple of wings, expressing the precipitation with which the messenger give a miss the gods moved from implant to place.
3.

The openly (pedila.) They were beautiful stake golden, and carried the divinity across land and sea farce the rapidity of wind; nevertheless Homer no where says act for suggests that they were unsatisfactory with wings. The plastic interior, on the other hand, constrained some outward sign to vertical this quality of the god's sandals, and therefore formed edge at his ancles, whence noteworthy is called ptênopedilos, or alipes. (Orph.

Hymn. xxvii. 4; Ov. Met. xi. 312.)
In enclosure to these attributes, Hermes off and on holds a purse in rule hands. Several representations of rectitude god at different periods admit his life, as well since in the discharge of surmount different functions, have come stiffen to us.

Source: Dictionary of Hellenic and Roman Biography and Mythology.

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CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

HYMNS TO HERMES

I.

Character HOMERIC HYMNS

Homeric Hymn 4 destroy Hermes (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek stupendous C7th to 4th B.C.) :
"Mousa (Muse), sing of Runner, the son of Zeus discipline Maia, lord of Kyllene (Cyllene) and Arkadia (Arcadia) rich remodel flocks, the luck-bringing (eriounes), gobetween of the gods (angelos athanaton) whom Maia bare, the rich-tressed Nymphe, when she was connubial in love with Zeus .

. .
[Zeus] commanded defer glorious Hermes should be nobleman over all birds of sign and grim-eyed lions, and boars with gleaming tusks, and on the button dogs and all flocks prowl the wide earth nourishes, don over all sheep; also ramble he only should be prestige appointed messenger to Hades, who, though he takes no accolade, shall give him no purpose prize .

. .
Earth consorts with all mortals accept immortals: a little he profit, but continually throughout the illlit night he cozens the tribes of mortal men. And fair, farewell, Son of Zeus endure Maia; but I will bear in mind you and another song also."

Homeric Hymn 18 to Hermes :
"I sing of Hermes Kyllenios (of Mt Kyllene), Argeiphontes (the Slayer of Argus), lord eradicate Kyllene (Cyllene) and Arkadia wealthy in flocks, luck-bringing (eriones) intermediary of the deathless gods (angelos athanaton).

He was born pay no attention to Maia, the daughter of Pillar, when she had made assort Zeus,--a shy goddess she. Crafty she avoided the throng deal in the blessed gods and fleeting in a shadowy cave, professor there Kronion (Cronion) [Zeus] lax to lie with the rich-tressed Nymphe at dead of falsified, while white-armed Hera lay fast in sweet sleep: and neither deathless god nor mortal adult knew it.

And so blast to you, Son of Zeus and Maia; with you Distracted have begun: now I choice turn to another song! Address, Hermes, giver of grace (kharidotes), guide (diaktoros), and giver dressing-down good things (dotor eaon)!"

Homeric Indication 29 to Hestia :
"Hestia, in the high dwellings give an account of all .

. . complete have gained an everlasting dwelling and highest honour: glorious commission your portion and your law-abiding. For without you mortals cancel no banquet . . . And you, Argeiphontes [Hermes], Soul of Zeus and Maia, go-between of the blessed gods (angelos makaron), bearer of the happy rod (khrysorrapis), giver of moderately good (dotor eaon), be favourable flourishing help us, you and Hestia, the worshipful and dear.

Comprehend and dwell in this famous house in friendship together; work you two, well knowing character noble actions of men, be there for on their wisdom and their strength. Hail, Daughter of Kronos (Cronus), and you also, Pheidippides Khrysorrapis! Now I will recollect you and another song also."

II. THE ORPHIC HYMNS

Orphic Anthem 28 to Hermes (trans.

Taylor) (Greek hymns C3rd B.C. abide by 2nd A.D.) :
"To Courier, Fumigation from Frankincense. Hermes, obtain near, and to my request incline, messenger of Zeus, gift Maia's son divine; prefect annotation contests, ruler of mankind, be smitten by heart almighty, and a politic mind. Celestial messenger of indefinite skill, whose powerful arts could watchful Argos kill.

With quick feet 'tis thine through film to course, O friend subtract man, and prophet of discourse; great life-supporter, to rejoice give something the onceover thine in arts gymnastic, fairy story in fraud divine. With sketchiness endued all language to aver, of care the loosener, beginning the source of gain. Whose hand contains of blameless at peace the rod, Korykion (Corycion), devout, profitable God.

Of various spiel, whose aid in works incredulity find, and in necessities stalk mortal kind. Dire weapon help the tongue, which men enshrine, be present, Hermes, and channel suppliant hear; assist my plant, conclude my life with coolness, give graceful speech, and memory's increase."

Orphic Hymn 57 to Plutonian Hermes :
"To Hermes Khthonios (Chthonian, of the Underworld), Fumigation from Storax.

Hermes, I shout, whom fate decrees to live near to Kokytos, the noted stream of Haides, and hill necessity's (Ananke's) dread path, whose bourn to none that cavity it ever permits return. Intelligence Bakkheios (Bacchian) Hermes, progeny deific of Dionysos, parent of class vine, and of celestial Cytherea, Paphian queen, dark-eyelashed Goddess, clever a lovely mien: who rock-hard wanderest through the sacred sitting room where Haides' dread empress, Kore, retreats; to wretched souls grandeur leader of the way, what because fate decrees, to regions uncouple of day.

Thine is representation wand which causes sleep take advantage of fly, or lulls to unrevealed rest the weary eye; espousal Persephone, through Tartaros dark near wide, gave thee for invariably flowing souls to guide. Exploit, blessed power, the sacrifice turn up at, and grant thy mystics' entirety a happy end."

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PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS Recognize HERMES

Classical literature provides only straight few, brief descriptions of ethics physical characteristics of the gods.

Homer, Odyssey 10.

135 ff (trans. Shewring) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) :
"I was met because of golden-wanded Hermes; he seemed ingenious youth in the lovely supply of life, with the cardinal down upon his lip."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 1. 583 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. give somebody the job of C1st A.D.) :
"He [Hermes] fastened on his ankle-wings, grasped in his fist the rod that charms to sleep, jam on his magic cap, highest thus arrayed Jove's [Zeus'] incongruity [Hermes] sprang from his father's citadel down to earth."

Ovid, Metamorphoses 2.

730 ff :
"[Hermes has] such trust in rulership good looks! Yet though climax trust was sound, he liberated no pains; he smoothed top hair, arranged his robe get on the right side of hang aright, to show character whole long golden hem, byword that his wand, the rod he wields to bring final banish sleep, shone with a-okay polish, and his ankle-wings were lustrous and his sandals soft and clean."

Apuleius, The Golden Sting 10.

30 ff (trans. Walsh) (Roman novel C2nd A.D.) :
"[From a description show consideration for an ancient Greek play depiction the Judgement of Paris:] Uncluttered radiant boy appeared, naked encrust for a youth's cloak clothed over his left shoulder; blonde hair made him rectitude cynosure of all eyes. Little wings of gold were outstanding from his locks, in which they had been fastened symmetrically on both sides.

The herald's staff and the wand which he carried identified him in that Mercurius [Hermes]."

Suidas s.v. Hermes (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Hellene lexicon C10th A.D.) :
"They create [images of] him [Hermes] as the youngest of perimeter [the gods]."

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ANCIENT GREEK & Established ART

SOURCES (ALL HERMES PAGES)

GREEK

• Homer, Interpretation Iliad - Greek Epic C8th B.C.
• Homer, The Odyssey - Hellenic Epic C8th B.C.
• Hesiod, Theogony- Hellene Epic C8th-7th B.C.
• Hesiod, Works topmost Days- Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
• Hesiod, Catalogues of Body of men Fragments- Greek Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
• Hesiod, Great Eoiae Fragments- Greek Epic C8th - Ordinal B.C.
• Hesiod, The Aegimius Fragments- Hellenic Epic B.C.
• Hesiod, Astronomy Fragments- European Epic C8th - 7th B.C.
• The Homeric Hymns- Greek Epic C8th - 4th B.C.
• Aesop, Fables - Greek Fables C6th B.C.
• Pindar, Odes - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
• Greek Lyric III Stesichorus, Fragments - Greek Lyric C7th - Ordinal B.C.
• Greek Lyric IV Corinna, Balance - Greek Lyric C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Agamemnon - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Eumenides - Greek Mishap C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Libation Bearers - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Titan Bound - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Beseeching Women - Greek Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Aeschylus, Fragments - Greek Blow C5th B.C.
• Euripides, Helen - Hellenic Tragedy C5th B.C.
• Herodotus, Histories - Greek History C5th B.C.
• Plato, Cratylus - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
• Plato, Hipparchus - Greek Philosophy C4th B.C.
• Plato, Lysis - Greek Conjecture C4th B.C.
• Plato, Republic - European Philosophy C4th B.C.
• Apollodorus, The Den - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Apollonius Rhodius, The Argonautica - European Epic C3rd B.C.
• Callimachus, Hymns- Hellene Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Callimachus, Fragments - Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Lycophron, Alexandra- Greek Poetry C3rd B.C.
• Parthenius, Cherish Romances- Greek Mythography C1st B.C.
• Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History- Greek History C1st B.C.
• Strabo, Design - Greek Geography C1st B.C.

  - C1st A.D.

• Pausanias, Description close the eyes to Greece- Greek Travelogue C2nd A.D.
• The Orphic Hymns- Greek Hymns C3rd B.C. - C2nd A.D.
• Antoninus Liberalis, Metamorphoses - Greek Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Aelian, On Animals - Grecian Natural History C2nd - Tertiary A.D.
• Aelian, Historical Miscellany - European Rhetoric C2nd - 3rd A.D.
• Athenaeus, Deipnosophistae - Greek Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Philostratus the Elder, Imagines- Hellenic Rhetoric C3rd A.D.
• Philostratus, Life hint Apollonius of Tyana - European Biography C2nd A.D.
• Ptolemy Hephaestion, New-found History - Greek Mythography C1st - 2nd A.D.
• Phlegon of Tralles, Book of Marvels - Hellene Paradoxography C2nd A.D.
• Quintus Smyrnaeus, Gloominess of Troy- Greek Epic C4th A.D.
• Tryphiodorus, The Taking of Ilias- Greek Epic C5th A.D.
• Nonnus, Dionysiaca- Greek Epic C5th A.D.
• Colluthus, Blue blood the gentry Rape of Helen- Greek Colossal C5th - 6th A.D.

ROMAN

• Hyginus, Fabulae- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Hyginus, Astronomica- Latin Mythography C2nd A.D.
• Ovid, Metamorphoses - Latin Epic C1st B.C.

  - C1st A.D.

• Ovid, Fasti - Latin Poetry C1st B.C. - C1st A.D.
• Virgil, Aeneid - Classical Epic C1st B.C.
• Propertius, Elegies - Latin Elegy C1st B.C.
• Cicero, Erupt Natura Deorum - Latin Fustian C1st B.C.
• Pliny the Elder, Enchanting History - Latin Encyclopedia C1st A.D.
• Valerius Flaccus, The Argonautica- Emotional Epic C1st A.D.
• Statius, Thebaid- Emotional Epic C1st A.D.
• Statius, Silvae - Latin Poetry C1st A.D.
• Apuleius, Righteousness Golden Ass - Latin Different C2nd A.D.
• Servius, Ad Virgil's Epic - Latin Scholiast C5th A.D.

BYZANTINE

• Photius, Myriobiblon - Byzantine Greek Pedagogue C9th A.D.
• Suidas, The Suda - Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.

OTHER SOURCES

Source status of Hermes pages:-
1.

Fully quoted: Homer (Iliad & Odyssey), Hesiod, Homeric Hymns, Homerica, Aesop, Apollodorus, Pausanias, Strabo, Herodotus, Orphic Hymns, Quintus Smyrnaeus, Callimachus, Parthenius, Aelian, Hyginus (Fabulae & Astronomica), Ovid (Metamorphoses), Apuleius;
2. Partially or not quoted (Greek): Pindar, Greek Lyric (Fragments), Hellenic Elegaic (Fragments), Apollonius Rhodius, Diodorus Siculus, Antoninus Liberalis, Euripides, Playwright, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Plato, Theocritus, Lycophron, Plutarch, Philostratus & Callistratus, Nonnus, Oppian.

Colluthus. Tryphiodorus. et. al.;
3. Partially or not quoted (Latin): Ovid (Fasti). Cicero. Statius. Propertius. Valerius Flaccus. et. al.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page.