Hermes Hermes

(Ερμη̃ς, Mercurius). The son of Zeus and Maya, the messenger of the gods, the god of industry and various inventions, cunning, resourceful, skilled in clever words, not stopping even at theft and deception. He was also considered the god of roads, guide to wanderers and patron of flocks; he also escorts the dead to the kingdom of Hades. Hermes invented the lyre by stringing strings around a tortoise's shell. He was depicted with wings on his soles or on his hat and with a wand of happiness divided into three branches. A palm tree, a turtle and various fish were dedicated to him. Roman Mercury corresponded to the Greek Hermes.

(Source: “A Brief Dictionary of Mythology and Antiquities.” M. Korsh. St. Petersburg, edition by A. S. Suvorin, 1894.)

(Έρμής), in Greek mythology, the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers, the guide of the souls of the dead. G. is the son of Zeus and Maya, one of the daughters of Atlas, born by her in Arcadia in the cave of Killena (Hymn. Hom. Ill I-5). An Olympian deity, although of pre-Greek, possibly Asia Minor origin. G.'s fetishistic antiquity is indicated by his name, understood as a derivative of the Greek. έρμα - a pile of stones or a stone pillar, which was used to mark burial places in ancient times. Herms were waymarks (Plat. Hipp. 228d-229a), fetishes - guardians of roads, borders, gates (hence G. “gatekeeper” - “Propylaeus”) (Paus. II 38, 7); damage to herms was considered a terrible sacrilege (Thuc. VI 27). Fetishistic rudiments of God are found in such indispensable attributes of G. as “ambrosia” (lit. “immortal”) golden winged sandals and a golden rod - the focus of magical power (Hom. Od. V 44-50). In his hands with this rod, which puts people to sleep and awakens them, G. performs one of his most ancient functions as a conductor of the souls of the dead to Hades, a “psychopomp” or assistant on the way to the kingdom of the dead (Hom. Od. XXIV 1-5). G. is equally included in both worlds - life and death; he is a mediator between one and the other, just as he is a mediator between gods and people. He leads the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite to trial Parisa(Eur. Andr. 274-287). G. is the messenger of the gods, the male correlate of the messenger of the gods Iris. The expression of the divine will sometimes comes in a dream, and G. sends dreams to people with the help of his rod (Hymn. Hom. Ill 14). G.'s leadership on the paths of life and death is reinterpreted in the era of classical mythology as patronage of heroes. He gives Nephele, the mother of Frixus, and Gellas a golden-fleeced ram, on which they escape from their stepmother (Apollod. I 9, 1). Founder of Thebes Amphion G. hands over the lyre, and with its help the hero builds the walls of the city (III 5, 5); Perseus he hands over a sword to kill Medusa (II 4, 2); Odyssey reveals the secret of the magic herb in order to escape from the witchcraft of Kirk (Hom. Od. X 227-306); G. saved the god Ares from the intrigues Aloadov. T. protects heroes during their travels (Hom. Il. XXIV 334). He helped Priam penetrate unharmed into the camp of Achilles (XXIV 339-447), and here G.’s ability to open any bonds invisibly was reflected (Hymn. Hom. Ill 410). G.'s cunning and dexterity make him the patron of trickery and theft. A description of G.'s thieving exploits and the story of the baby G.'s theft of a beautiful herd of cows from Apollo is given in Homer's “Hymn to Hermes” (III 68-94). G. taught his son to cheat Autolyka - maternal grandfather Odysseus; Odysseus' cunning is the result of heredity received from a divine ancestor (Hom. Od. XIX 394-398). Thanks to cunning and deception, G. freed Io from the monstrous Argos and killed him. Putting on the helmet of Hades, G. deftly killed one of the giants (Apollod. I 6, 2).
The function of G. as the patron of shepherding, multiplying the offspring in herds along with Hecate(Hes. Theog. 444), secondary (cf. Pan- son of G. - god of herds). G. and Apollo mutually exchanged a number of important functions or divided them among themselves. According to the myth, by chance (for all random finds are sent to G.) having found a turtle, G. for the first time made a seven-string lyre from its shell and sang to its accompaniment. Apollo persuaded him to give him the lyre in exchange for cows (Hymn. Hom. Ill 413-502). In addition, G. handed Apollo his pipe, for which he received a golden rod from him and was taught by him the art of fortune telling (Apollod. Ill 10, 2). During the period of late antiquity, the image of G. Trismegistus (“thrice greatest”) arose in connection with G.’s proximity to the other world; Occult sciences and the so-called were associated with this image. hermetic (secret, closed, accessible only to initiates) writings.
G. was revered at anthesteria - the holiday of the awakening of spring and the memory of the dead. In Roman mythology he was revered under the name Mercury - patron of trade.
Lit.: Radermacher L., Der homerische Hermeshymnus. Erläutert und untersucht, W., 1931; Raingeard P., Hermes ptychagogue. Essai sur les origines du culte d"Hermes, P., 1985; Kerenyi K., Hemes der Seelen-Führer, Z., 1944; Brown 0. N.. Hermes - the thief, Madison, 1947; Moorsel G. v. , The mysteries of Hermes Triemegistus, Utrecht, 1966.
A. A. Tahoe-Godi.

Among the works of ancient sculpture that have come down to us: the statue of “G. with the baby Dionysus" by Praxiteles. "G." Polykleitos is known in several replicas, "Resting G." Lysippa - in the Roman copy; the so-called "G. Ludovisi", "G. Fariese", "G. from Belvedere" and others; among the herms is a Pergamon copy of the work of Alcamenes; among the reliefs - “G. and harites." Under the influence of ancient images of G. with a lamb on his shoulders, the iconographic type of the “good shepherd” was formed in early Christian art. In medieval book illustrations, G. is depicted as a symbol of the planet Mercury (in many European languages, mercury, which played an extremely important role in alchemy until the 17th century, bore the name of this planet). Sometimes G. was depicted as the god of eloquence. In the symbolism of the Renaissance and Baroque, G. is a guide of souls (relief of the Malatestian Temple in Rimini; Raphael’s fresco “G. introduces Psyche to Olympus”), messenger of the gods (statue “Mercury” by Giambologna), peacemaker (painting by P. P. Rubens “Reconciliation” Marie de Medici with her son") and others. G. were depicted in the company of the Charit-Graces (J. Tintoretto “Mercury and the Three Graces”). In European art of the 15th-17th centuries. Particularly popular plots are: “Mercury beheads Argos” (Rubens, J. Jordans, Velasquez, Rembrandt, etc.), “Mercury’s abduction of Admetus’ flocks” (Domenichino, C. Lorrain, etc.), etc. In art 18 - early. 19th centuries G.'s image is embodied mainly in plastic art (G. R. Donner, J. V. Pigal, B. Thorvaldsen, etc.).

(Source: “Myths of the Peoples of the World.”)

(Hermias) - god of trade, profit, intelligence, dexterity, deception, theft and eloquence, giving wealth and income in trade, god of gymnastics. Patron of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds and travelers; patron of magic and astrology. Messenger of the gods and guide of the souls of the dead to the underworld of Hades. Son of Zeus and Pleiades Maia. Born in the grotto of Mount Killena (Arcadia). Father of Abdera, Autolycus, Hermaphroditus, Eurytus, Cephalus, Pan? and Efalida. Great-grandfather of Odysseus. See more details about it.

// Giovani Batista TIEPOLO: The appearance of Mercury before Aeneas // Alexey FANTALOV: Hermes and Argus // Jose Maria de REDIA: To Hermes Criophorus // Dmitry OLERON: Heraion. Hermes and Bacchus of Praxiteles. Bacchus // Rainer Maria RILKE: Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes // N.A. Kuhn: HERMES // N.A. Kuhn: HERMES KIDNAPPES APOLLO'S COWS

(Source: “Myths of Ancient Greece. Dictionary-reference book.” EdwART, 2009.)

in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and the nymph Maya, the winged messenger of the gods, the patron of invention, trickery and mischief, a guide to the kingdom of the dead.

(Source: “Dictionary of spirits and gods of German-Scandinavian, Egyptian, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Mayan and Aztec mythologies.”)

Painting of the white background lekythos of the “Master of the Boston Vial”.
Around 440 BC e.
Munich.
Museum of Ancient Applied Art.

Relief fragment from the island of Thassos.
Marble.
Around 480 BC e.
Paris.
Louvre.

Fragment of a terracotta statue of Vulca from the pediment of the Temple of Apollo in Veii.
Around 500 BC e.
Rome.
Villa Giulia Museum.

Roman copy.

(second half of the 4th century BC).
Bronze.
Naples.
National Museum.

Statue of Praxiteles.
Marble.
Around 340 BC e.
Olympia.
Museum.

Roman copy.
From the Greek original of Polykleitos
(around 450 BC).
Marble.
Berlin.
State museums.

Bronze.
Around 340 BC e.
Athens.
National Museum.

Roman copy.
From the Greek original (5th century BC).
Marble.
Rome.
National Museum.

Roman copy.
From the Greek original by Lysippos
(around 330 BC).
Marble.
Copenhagen.
New Carlsberg Glyptotek.

See what "Hermes" is in other dictionaries:

In the grotto of Mount Killene in Arcadia, the son of Zeus and Maya, the god Hermes (1), the messenger of the gods, was born. With the speed of thought, he is transported from Olympus to the farthest edge of the world in his winged sandals, with a caduceus staff in his hands. Hermes guards the paths, and... ... Encyclopedia of Mythology

- (Greek Hermes). Ancient Greek god, corresponding to the Roman Mercury, son of Zeus and Maia. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. HERMES Mercury, in Greek. mythology, son of Zeus and Maya, messenger of the gods, god... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

And husband. Star. ed. Report: Germesovich, Germesovna. Derivatives: Herma; Hera.Origin: (In ancient mythology: Hermes is the god of cattle breeding, trade and patron of travelers.) Dictionary of personal names. Hermes a, m. Star. rare Report: Germesovich, Germesovna.... ... Dictionary of personal names

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Hermes- Hermes. Fragment of a terracotta statue of Vulca from the pediment of the Temple of Apollo in Veii. OK. 500 BC Villa Giulia Museum. Rome. HERMES, in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus, messenger of the Olympian gods, patron of shepherds, travelers, trade and profit,... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

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In Greek mythology, the son of Zeus, messenger of the Olympian gods, patron of shepherds and travelers, god of trade and profit. The Roman Mercury corresponds to it... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

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No one can carry out the orders of Zeus as well as Hermes does. The fleet-footed god will pass everywhere, there are no obstacles for him: he flies to the ends of the world in the blink of an eye, and descends underground into the dark kingdom of Hades to guide the souls of the dead there. Swift, like a ray of light, the fleet-footed Hermes rushes from high Olympus to the earth and back to Olympus, conveying the will of the thunderer to the gods and mortals. Fate itself was destined for him to become the messenger of the gods. Already from birth, everything foreshadowed that a great future awaited this smart child.
In a mountain cave in Arcadia, the son of Zeus and Maya, fleet-footed Hermes, was born. He was still lying in the cradle when, looking at his sly face, the experienced Apollo predicted his fate:
“Oh, my darling, cunning and deceiver, I feel how often you will sneak into houses on a dark night to quietly do your thieving work there.
Apollo, of course, exaggerated, but, to tell the truth, quite a bit. How many gods were there on Olympus and how many heroes, mighty and strong, lived on earth at that time, and none of them could surpass Hermes in dexterity and cunning. The newborn god did not remain long in his sacred cradle. Slowly, he untangled himself from his mother’s swaddling clothes, jumped to the ground and stepped over the threshold. The clear sun illuminated his strong figure, he laughed joyfully and then saw a large turtle. She moved slowly on her soft paws, nibbling on the lush grass. Hermes picked up the turtle in his arms and returned to the cave. There, without thinking twice, he gutted it, then cut even reed stalks in a clearing and made his first sweet-sounding lyre from a turtle shell. He even thought of fitting the strings, which he made from sheep intestines, and when everything was ready, he touched them, and gentle sounds filled the high arches of the cave.
Hermes began to sing along to these sounds, and everything worked out so well for him. He continued to sing, but another idea was already spinning in his head. He wanted to try fresh meat, and at the same time make fun of Apollo. The little singer hid his lyre in a cradle and rushed to the Pierian mountains. It was already a dark night, only bright stars sparkled in the high sky. But even the dark night is not a hindrance for Hermes. He quickly reached Pieria, where Apollo's herds grazed on green, unmown pastures. He separated fifty mooing cows from the herd, tied panicles made of myrtle and tamarisk branches to their hooves and drove them along the sandy soil, confusing their tracks.
On the way, Hermes met an old man who, bent over, was digging in his vineyard.
- Look, old man, don’t tell anyone that you saw me, no matter who asks you about it. And for this I give you these two cows.
The old man swore that he would be as dumb as a fish and would not tell anyone anything, no matter who asked him. Hermes moved on with his herd, but after a while he decided to check whether the old man would keep his word. He hid the cows in the forest, and, having changed his appearance, he returned back.
“Tell me, old man, have you seen the cows here that the boy was driving?” If you tell me where he drove them, I will give you a bull and a cow.
The old man really wanted to receive this generous gift, so he didn’t take long to beg and showed where the little driver went. Hermes got angry with the old man and turned him into a rock, so that now he would be silent forever, and he hurried on. He walked through forested mountains, through flowering meadows, past gloomy gorges.
It was already a clear morning when Hermes drove the stolen herd to Arcadia. But he did not lead the cows to his cave, but to another one that was nearby. He already knew all the cunning habits and, in order to confuse the tracks, turned the cows backwards and led them into the cave. After all, now everyone who sees the tracks will think that the cows came from there. He left two cows and sacrificed them to the Olympian gods.
Tired of his arduous work, Hermes headed to his native cave. Slowly, so that his mother would not see, he climbed into his cradle and pretended to be asleep. He even wrapped diapers around himself, as if he was lying in place all the time. But the mother had already seen the empty cradle and guessed where her unlucky son was walking:
“Why did you steal the cows from Apollo, you started a bad business,” she told him reproachfully. “Aren’t you afraid of his far-reaching arrows?” You don’t yet know how terrible he is in his anger.
“I’m not afraid of Apollo,” little Hermes answered her, “let him be angry.” And if he dares to offend me, I will plunder all his sanctuaries in Delphi in revenge. I will steal all his gold, silver and clothes.
Before he had time to utter the last word, an angry Apollo appeared on the threshold of the grotto. Hermes saw the formidable god and closed his eyes, as if he had been fast asleep for a long time. Hermes lay quietly and modestly in his cradle, and who would have thought that this innocent baby could have already done so many things. But his innocent appearance did not deceive the wise Apollo. He approached the baby’s cradle and said to him menacingly:
– Listen to me carefully, baby. If you don't give me back my cows, I will throw you into deep Tartarus. Then even your father will not save you.
Hermes opened his sly eyes and stared in surprise at the formidable god:
“I know, Apollo, that you are very wise. But how could you think that I could take away your cows, because I am still so small. I have other worries now - sleep and drink my mother’s milk.
The experienced Apollo laughed; he realized what a cunning man had appeared in the world. That's when he told him:
“Grow up, little liar, and the gods will honor you.”
Apollo pulled the young rogue out of his cradle and, as he was in swaddling clothes, forced him to go with him to Olympus, so that Zeus would judge them and force his newborn son to return everything that he had already stolen. Hermes showed where he had hidden Apollo’s cows, and so that he would no longer hold a grudge against him, the cunning Hermes, while Apollo led the cows out of the cave and counted them, played him beautiful melodies on the lyre. And Apollo, amazed by the virtuosity of Hermes, forgave him and even gave him his cows for his lyre.
When Hermes grew up, the great Zeus took him to Olympus. Since then, he tirelessly rushed around the world, carrying out his father's orders. He stopped by on the way to his mother to rest a little and one day complained to her:
- Oh, how unhappy I am, there is no one more unhappy than me.
- What's happened? – Maya was alarmed. -What happened to you, my son?
“They completely tormented me with work.” I'm torn apart by so many things to do. Nobody feels sorry for me.
– Don’t anger the great gods, son. They love you, that's why they forgive all your tricks. Well, judge for yourself, not only did you steal Apollo’s cows when he was little, but you also recently stole his bow and arrows. And who stole his scepter from Zeus himself?
Hermes laughed and lowered his poor head. He remembered this funny incident when he really jokingly stole the sign of his power - a golden scepter - from his father and hid it. There was so much commotion on Olympus then, so much excitement, until the gods figured out who was the culprit of this unheard-of theft. He had to confess and show where he hid the stolen scepter. His father got angry with him a little, and then forgave him. Still, he loves him very much.
“But I steal only as a joke, I don’t need anything,” Hermes said to his worried mother, “after all, I do even more good deeds.” Who invented the alphabet and taught people to read? And who invented numbers and measures of all things? Are you saying it's not me?
What could Maya say? Of course, it was all thought up and invented by her son. He is very talented and smart. And the mother is very proud of her son. What kind of requests does he come to him with? Merchants consider him their god, and travelers consider him theirs. He does not leave people even after their death, he escorts their souls to Hades. He doesn’t offend anyone and succeeds everywhere. Even when public meetings need to be held, they send for him. He will gather everyone quickly and teach them how to speak.
“Okay, okay,” the loving mother gave in. - You are my wonderful son. Just, I ask you, do not test the patience of the great gods anymore. Here again they complained to me that Poseidon’s trident was missing, and Ares’s was missing his sword. Give them everything back please!
- Okay, I’ll return it, don’t worry. Well, I have to go. We also need to fly to Argos, visit Danae, give her greetings from Zeus, and on the way back he asked to run to Boeotia to see Antiope.
And fleet-footed Hermes rushed further on his winged sandals.

The god Hermes is known in Greek mythology as the messenger of the gods and the patron of travelers, who earned the favor of Zeus with his cunning and dexterity. For these qualities he was called a guardian by deceivers, and by creators for his talent for music. The son of the Thunderer managed to commit a great theft from Apollo himself while still in the cradle, and when he grew up, he stole the nymph Io from the giant.

Who is Hermes?

Who is Hermes in Greek mythology - he was the patron of many crafts, his name meant “pillar of stone”, similar signs were installed at intersections and were called guardians of roads - herms. Damaging it was considered a terrible sacrilege and was severely punished. The son of Zeus and the nymph of the mountains Maia, the god Hermes was a mediator between the rulers of Olympus and people, he was credited with:

• escorting dead souls to the kingdom of Hades;
• invention of the lyre and composition of music;
• coming up with original jokes and practical jokes;
• patronage in many sciences and sports.

The Greeks revered Hermes very much because he gave them measures of weight and length, numbers and the alphabet, and knowledge of astronomy. He was glorified by athletes and musicians. They were considered the god of entrance and exit, the patron of travelers, so the image of Hermes was certainly painted on the carts. The attributes of this god were golden sandals and a staff, which had special magical powers.

What did Hermes look like?

Hermes is often depicted as a young man wearing golden sandals and with the same staff decorated with snakes, with his help he gave people prophetic dreams. Sandals made this god a guide to the world of the dead, the secrets of which he also knew well. It was believed that Hermes was a Greek god who helped scammers. Often the messenger god was depicted with his head uncovered, but sometimes wearing a hat with a curved brim.

Hermes - mythology

The exploits of the rogue god include many myths, the most famous: how Hermes kidnaps Apollo’s cows and the abduction of the charming nymph Io. In the first case, he distinguished himself while still a baby, took the animals away, putting them in sandals so that they would not be found by their footprints, and hid them in a cave. Only before Zeus did he confess and return the loss, but in return he managed to exchange other valuables from Apollo.

Later, during the time of classical mythology, the role of this deity changed, receiving the status of "Hermes - the ancient Greek god who helps heroes." This was manifested in the following actions:

1. He brought a sword to Perseus to destroy.
2. Saved Odysseus from the magic of the sorceress Kirka.
3. He gave the lyre to the founder of Thebes, Amphion, with which he built the city.
4. Saved the god of war Ares from the tricks of the Aloads.

Apollo and Hermes - myth

Researchers believe that Hermes and Apollo divided the responsibilities assigned to them. The myth tells that Hermes, as a child, was able to bargain for himself the valuable attributes of his power:

1. He was the first to make a lyre from a turtle shell and began to play it. This happened after he returned the cows stolen from Apollo. When he heard the wonderful game, he offered to exchange for the same animals.
2. Having returned the cows, Hermes made a pipe and began to blow new melodies. Apollo also liked the instrument, and he offered to exchange it for a travel rod - a caduceus. He also rewarded the baby with the ability to guess.

Later, shepherds chose Hermes as their patron - for his ability to handle animals and the pipe, which he loved to play, as well as thieves - for his ability to open any locks. Since Hermes possessed the secrets of the other world, they asked for his help in mastering the occult sciences. Versatile abilities gave this god the title of “thrice greatest” - Trismegistus.

Aphrodite and Hermes

The fact that Hermes is a god endowed with extraordinary cunning is also evidenced by the myth of how he achieved the favor of the goddess Aphrodite. At first she rejected his claims, and Hermes asked his father Zeus for help. The Thunderer ordered the eagle to steal the sandal from the beauty and give it to his favorite. When the goddess came for the loss, Hermes managed to seduce her. After this night, the handsome Hermaphrodite was born, whose name is associated with another legend. And the god of travelers, in gratitude for his help, turned the eagle intermediary into a constellation.

Hermes and Zeus

Myths claim that Hermes is the son of Zeus, whom he loved very much and endowed with special privileges, forgiving pranks and tricks. The God-messenger was especially revered at Anthesteria; the supreme ruler of Olympus even gave the sly constellation Lyra. Therefore, he responded to his father’s requests for help with great zeal. There are two myths about this:

1. Zeus asked Hermes to steal for him his beloved nymph Io, who was turned into a cow, to which the jealous wife Hera assigned the giant Argus as a guard. The difficulty was that the guard never slept because he had many eyes. The sly man coped with the task brilliantly.
2. He figured out how to make Hercules’ burden lighter by selling him to Queen Lydia. According to the prediction, the great hero could be cured of a serious illness if he was sold into slavery and worked for three years. In the service of the ruler Omphale, circumventing the prediction turned out to be a simple task.

Hermes, in Greek mythology, the messenger of the gods, the patron of travelers, the guide of the souls of the dead, the god of trade, profit, rationality, dexterity, trickery, deception, theft and eloquence, the giver of wealth and income in trade, the god of athletes. Patron of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds and travelers; patron of magic, alchemy and astrology. He invented measures, numbers, the alphabet and taught it to people.

Family and environment

To make his son Ephalis immortal, Hermes endowed him with limitless memory. As Apollonius of Rhodes wrote: “Even when he crossed the Acheron, the river in the kingdom of the dead, oblivion did not swallow his soul; and although he lives sometimes in the abode of shadows, sometimes in the earthly world, flooded with sunlight, he always retains the memories of what he saw ".

When the gods fled to Egypt, he turned into an ibis.

Name, epithets and character

Hermes Olympian deity of pre-Greek, possibly Asia Minor origin. The name of Hermes is understood as a derivative of the word "herma", which indicates the fetishistic antiquity of this deity. The herma was a stone column (either a pile of stones or a stone pillar) with the carved head of Hermes and highlighted genitals.

At first, herms marked burial places, later they were installed at road intersections and, along with their sacred function, served as road signs. They served as guiding signs, fetishes - guardians of roads, borders, gates (hence the epithet of Hermes "perverted" - "Propylaeus"). Hermes pillars (hermes that looked like pillars with the head of Hermes) became widespread; they stood on the streets, in squares and at the entrance to palaestras.

Hermes performs one of his most ancient functions as a conductor of the souls of the dead in Hades or an assistant on the way to the kingdom of the dead, hence his epithet Psychopomp - “guide of souls.” Hermes is equally present in both worlds - life and death; he is a mediator between one and the other, just as he is a mediator between gods and people. He leads Hera, Athena and Aphrodite to the judgment of Paris.

During the period of late antiquity, the image of Hermes Trismegistus (“thrice greatest”) arose in connection with the proximity of Hermes to the other world; The occult sciences and the so-called hermetic (secret, closed, accessible only to initiates) writings were associated with this image.

Sometimes he was depicted with a lamb on his shoulders, as the patron of flocks, hence another epithet Kriofor, that is, “carrying a ram.” Other epithets of Hermes are also known: Agoreus “market”, as the patron of trade; Akaketus (or Akakesius) has one of the meanings of "helper", "merciful" or "invulnerable", perhaps this epithet is associated with the city of Akakesius in Arcadia; Doly "cunning"; Ktharos "profitable"; Tikhon “hits the target”, as bringing good luck; Tricephalus "three-headed", as the patron of crossroads.

Hermes is a joker and a merry fellow who loves practical jokes. He surpasses everyone in cunning, cunning and ingenuity, the cunning and dexterity of Hermes make him the patron of trickery and theft, it is not for nothing that thieves and cheaters considered him their patron.

In Roman mythology it was revered under the name of Mercury. Among the Maeonians, Candaules, the legendary king of Lydia, the last of the Heraclid dynasty, is identified with him.

Cult and symbolism

According to Herodotus, the Athenians were the first of the Hellenes to make an image of him with a tense member, having learned this from the Pelasgians, who had a sacred legend. Originally, Hermes was a phallic deity, depicted by herms. In 415 BC e. the herms were destroyed. During Roman times, they lost connection with the phallic cult of Hermes and began to be made in the form of a rectangular column on which a bust of a person or deity was placed.

The fetishistic rudiments of the god are found in such indispensable attributes of Hermes as the “ambrosial” (literally “immortal”) golden winged sandals “talaria” and the golden rod - the kerikion or caduceus - the focus of magical power, which he received from Apollo. The caduceus had on itself two snakes (in another version - two ribbons), which wrapped around the staff at the moment when Hermes decided to test it, placing it between two fighting snakes. God used his rod to put people to sleep or wake them up - in order to convey a message from the gods to one of the mortals. Another attribute of Hermes is the wide-brimmed petas hat.

In medieval book illustrations, Hermes is depicted as a symbol of the planet Mercury (in many European languages, mercury, which played an extremely important role in alchemy until the 17th century, bore the name of this planet).

Hermes was revered as the patron of young athletes; stadiums were built in his honor, which were intended for various athletic competitions, as well as schools where gymnastics was practiced. These schools were decorated with sculptures of Hermes.

Pausanias cites the legend of the Boeotian city of Tanagra, which was saved from the plague by Hermes by carrying a ram on his shoulders around the city walls: “As for the temples of Hermes, one is dedicated to Hermes Kriophoros (the Ram Bearer), the other to Hermes, whom they call Promachos (warrior). Regarding the first name, they say that Hermes averted the pestilence from them by carrying a ram around their walls; therefore, Kalamis created a statue of Hermes carrying a ram on his shoulders. So to this day, at the festival of Hermes, the young man who will recognized as the most beautiful in appearance, walks around the city wall with a lamb on his shoulders."

Hermes was revered at Anthesteria - the festival of the awakening of spring and the memory of the dead. In Rome, merchants celebrated the festival of Mercury on May 15. On this day in 495 BC. The first temple was dedicated to him and the first college of Mercurial merchants was established. The altar to Hermes was also located near the so-called waters of Mercury, where merchants sprinkled their goods to preserve them from spoilage.

Influence on culture and art

The III and XVII hymns of Homer, the XXVIII Orphic hymn are dedicated to him.

Hermes is the protagonist of the tragedies of Aeschylus "Eumenides" and "Chained Prometheus", the tragedies of Euripides "Antiope" and "Ion", the comedies of Aristophanes "The World" and "Plutos", the play of Astydamas the younger "Hermes".

Numerous ancient statues of Hermes - “Binding the Sandal”, “Hermes Belvedere”, “Hermes Olympus” and others. Among the works of ancient sculpture that have come down to us: “Hermes with the baby Dionysus” by Praxiteles, “Hermes at rest” in a Roman copy; “Hermes Ludovisi”, “Hermes Fariese” are also known. Among the hermas is a Pergamon copy of Alcamenes' work. Among the reliefs are "Hermes and the Charites".

Sometimes Hermes was depicted as the god of eloquence. In the symbolism of the Renaissance and Baroque, Hermes is a guide of souls (relief of the Malatestian temple in Rimini; Raphael’s fresco “Hermes introduces Psyche to Olympus”), messenger of the gods (statue “Mercury Giambologna”), peacemaker (painting by P. P. Rubens “Reconciliation of Marie de Medici with his son") and others. Hermes was often depicted in the company of the Charit-Graces (J. Tintoretto “Mercury and the Three Graces”). In European art of the 15-17th centuries, the plots “Mercury beheads Argos” (Rubens, J. Jordans, Velazquez, Rembrandt, etc.), “The Rape of Admetus’ Herds by Mercury” (Domenichino, C. Lorrain, etc.).

In the art of the 18th - early 19th centuries. the image of Hermes is embodied mainly in plastic (G.R. Donner, J.V. Pigalle, B. Thorvaldsen, etc.)

Hermes in modern times

(69230)Hermes- a near-Earth asteroid from the Apollo group, which is characterized by a highly elongated orbit, which is why, in the process of its movement around the Sun, it crosses the orbits of three planets at once: Venus, Earth and Mars. Discovered by Karl Reinmuth on October 28, 1937.

It is curious that nowadays entrepreneurs very often use the name of Hermes in the names of their trading companies.

Hermes is the god of trade, dexterity, trickery, deception, theft and eloquence of Ancient Greece, giving wealth in trade. Hermes is also the patron saint of heralds, ambassadors, shepherds, and travelers; the patron of magic, alchemy and astrology, and also the messenger of the gods and guide of the souls of the dead (hence the nickname Psychopomp - guide of souls) to the underground kingdom of Hades. Hermes is the son of Zeus and the beautiful nymph of the mountains Maya, the grandfather of the brave and wise Odysseus. Hermes is usually depicted as a young man wearing a curved hat, golden winged sandals and holding a golden magic wand, a gift from Apollo, katsubei, decorated with two snakes.

In ancient Roman mythology, Hermes corresponds to Mercury, the patron god of trade, profit and enrichment, the son of the sky god Jupiter.

Immediately after his birth, Hermes revealed all the main traits of his character: ingenuity, agility combined with grace, cunning and cunning. Developing unusually quickly, at the fifth hour after birth he leaves the cradle, makes a lyre by stretching the strings on a tortoise shell, and sings on it the love of Zeus and his mother Maya.

Feeling a desire to eat meat, Hermes hurries to the region of Pieria at dusk and steals 50 bulls from Apollo's herd. Having tied sandals or tree branches to the feet of the bulls to confuse the tracks, he drives them in front of him, hides them in a cave near the city of Pylos, and then returns to his mother and lies down in the cradle as if nothing had happened.

But Apollo, who has the gift of providence, reveals the thief and leads him to Zeus. By the verdict of Zeus, Apollo receives back his bulls and voluntarily gives them up to Hermes in exchange for the lyre he invented. Then Hermes invents for himself a modest shepherd's pipe (syringa), but he also gives it up to Apollo for the “herald’s rod.” Thus, Hermes became the god of herds and pastures, while Apollo from that time began to zealously study music. In addition, Apollo taught his younger brother the art of divination, and Zeus made him the herald of the gods.

From this time on, Hermes appears in myths about gods and heroes, most often as the messenger of Zeus, but often also as a cunning friend of people and heroes, always ready to give reasonable advice. He is most willing to spend his time in the company of forest and field nymphs. Thus, Priapus, Hermaphroditus, Daphnis in Sicily and many others were considered his sons. Initially, Hermes “swift, hurrying,” was the god of the wind, as a result of which he was imagined as winged, then he became the god of trips and travel, and finally the god of trade and all sorts of affairs in general; as the god of travel, he accompanies people on their final journey to the kingdom of Hades, which is why he is called the “guide of souls.”

The oldest form of worship of Hermes was to worship him in the form of a simple heap of stones. In such a pile, a pillar was strengthened, and when they began to depict a phallus on the pillar, and subsequently also attach the head of a god to the pillar, they got herms, which at the same time initially served as wayposts and were supplied with wise sayings.

Mythological philosophers called Hermes a “general translator,” who gave people languages ​​and writing, and at the same time the opportunity to express their thoughts; the Greeks symbolically indicated this by sacrificing the tongues of sacrificial animals to him. Palaistras and gymnasiums were also considered his invention and were dedicated to him.

A special holiday in honor of Hermes was called “Hermeia” and was celebrated mainly in Athens in gymnasiums and palaestras. Hermes, such a versatile deity in character, was considered here primarily as the god of gymnastic agility. In a completely different meaning (as a preventer of epidemics) he was revered in Tanagra (Boeotia); Another significance was his cult on the island of Crete, where it approached the cult of Saturn in the Roman Saturnalia. The center of the cult of Hermes was Arcadia, and here (especially in Phenaea) Hermes was held in high esteem as the god of the most ancient rural population of the country. As the god of trade, Hermes was identified with the Roman Mercury.

Artistic depictions of Hermes were as varied as his meanings: he is sometimes a shepherd, sometimes a thief, sometimes a merchant (with a wallet), sometimes with a lyre, sometimes a messenger of the gods or a herald. Hermes carrying a ram passed into Christian symbolism in the form of the image of the Good Shepherd. The most ancient art represented him as a bearded, i.e., strong man, but already in the early era the image of Hermes in his youth became widespread. He wears short curly hair and has an inquisitive and intelligent expression.