Hermes was the Greek god of trade, herdsmen, travelers, thieves, sports, and heralds. He served as messenger to the gods and guided souls to the underworld. He was known for his speed, cunning, and skill in invention and music. Some of his symbols and attributes included winged sandals, a herald's staff, and a cap that could provide invisibility.

1. Hermes The Messenger God Charles Kim

2. Family Tree Atlas Maia Zeus Hermes

3. The Messenger God Known in Greek as Hermes In Roman he was known as Mercury Mercury was the closest planet to the sun, and also had the fastest rotation around the sun Like his father Zeus, Hermes had many affairs with different women and had many children

4. Other Names and Epithets God of the Merchants God of the Thieves God of Oratory (wit) Messenger God (along with Iris) God of Speed The helping God (helped many heroes with their difficult task

5. Other Names and Epithets cont God of animal husbandry Guide of the dead God of invention God of Commerce in General God of Athletics God of Weights and Meausures Hermes the Enforcer

6. Responsibilities and Roles Messenger God – Send messengers between Gods and Gods or Gods and people Protect thieves Said to have been the inventor of fire Guide to the underworld

7. His Symbols –Crocus http://the-meaning-of-flowers.blogspot.com/2008/08/meaning-of-flowers-c.html Krokus was a mortal man who once played a game of discus with Hermes. In the game Hermes accidentally kills Krokus. In distraught Hermes transforms Krokus’ body into a flower.

8. Strawberry Tree The Strawberry tree is considered a sacred tree. It is believed that Hermes was born under these strawberry type trees in Mount Kyllini Scared: Strawberry Tree http://www.midvalleytrees.com/products.asp?cat=53&hierarchy=0

9. Scared Animals The first day he was born he invented the lyre using a tortoise shell http://ivorytortoise.com/price/description/african_spurred_tortoise.html

10. Cattle Hermes stole these animals from Apollo in a clever way When Apollo found that his cattle was missing he was outraged but could not track who stole it Eventually Hermes confessed, but when Apollo heard Hermes offered to exchange the lyre for his herd http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=478492

11. His Attributes-Hermes Winged Boots Hermes is always depicted with his winged boots Hermes lent these boots of flight to Perseus to aid him in slaying Medusa Hermes’ Winged Boots www.hellenicsociety.org.uk

12. Cap of Hermes Hermes’ hat was said to grant the wearer invisibility Hermes let Perseus borrow his helmet of invisibility to slay Medusa

13. Shepherd’s Pipe Hermes created the shepherd’s pipe Apollo heard the pipe and felt he too should have this pipe He offered to trade in his rod for the pipe Hermes thinking that his offer was not enough wanted more Apollo agreed to these terms http://www.nma.gov.au/cook/images/collection/detail/247.jpg

14. Herald’s Rod of Hermes This golden rod may have been Apollo’s, Zeus may have given it to him when he appointed him as his official messenger The wand was always carried with him http://www.geocities.com/medea19777/hermes.html

15. Blade of Hermes Hermes had a blade that he lent Perseus along with his cap of invisibility Perseus used this sword to cut off Medusa’s head Perseus, with Hermes’ blade Source: http://ancienthistory.about.com Hermes Blade

16. Scared Places Mount Kyllini or Mount Cyllene because it was his birth place 2374 m (7789 ft) He is said in most cases to have been born in a cave or under a strawberry tree www.territorioscuola.com

17. Interesting Facts Hermes was the youngest of all the Olympiads Gave us the word hermeneutics, which means the “interpretation of literary texts It possibly comes from ‘herma’ or a heap of stones from early times. He was represented by craved stock in stone. However it is possible this identification is the other way around.

18. Bibliography Picture (drawing title page) http://eydelman.elfwood.com/hermes.jpg.html http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/HermesTreasures.html#Rod http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/monsters/ig/Medusa---Pictures-of-Medusa/Medusa.htm