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Hermes, god of travellers, merchants, thieves and all who make their way in life through luck. Originally venerated in piles of stones at crossroads and stone-posts (herms) that marked travelling routes. He is also the god of fertility and protector of shepherds. Moreover, He accompanied souls into the Netherworld.
Already as a small child in the craddle, He stole a herd of cattle from His brother Apollo.
He menaged to calm Apollo's anger by giving Him a precious gift - a lyre made of a turtle shell. The pleased Apollo presented Hermes with a hazel stick that had the power of reconciling enemies. Thus, Hermes became a messenger of the gods.
Known for his swiftness and athleticism, Hermes was given credit for inventing foot-racing and boxing. At Olympia a statue of him stood at the entrance to the stadium and his statues where in every gymnasium throughout Greece. Apart from herms, Hermes was a popular subject for artists. Both painted pottery and statuary show him in various forms, but the most fashionable depicted him as a good-looking young man, with an athletic body, and winged sandals and his heralds staff. His Roman counterpart Mercury inherited his attributes, and there are many Roman copies of Greek artistic creations of Hermes.
More information on the biography of Hermes:
See here
And here.
What does Hermes mean to me?
Oh Hermes Eriounios, as you have always been helping me to avoid difficult questions on the exams in school and at the university, so now I build this Shrine to you to thank you for your aid. :-)
I further thank you, oh Hermes Enodios, for getting me out of all troubles I happen to experience on my travels round the world.
As to my travels, so far you have helped me to survive the following situations:
- Malta, Feb 1999: I got drunk and my passport fell out of my pocket on a steep slope over the water in the middle of the night. You, o great Hermes, helped me to find it after only three hours of searching and did not let me fall to the sea, althought it was steepy and pitch-dark and I was intoxicated.
- Spain, Sep 1999: I drank a whole bottle of vodka, got drunk to the point of oblivion and - as it was reported to me later - tried to jump out of the window on the sixth floor. Thank you, o Hermes, for that kind person who called the police to prevent me from the unintended suicide and for the doctor who saved me from dying of the huge amount of alcohol.
- Greece, Jul 2001: I lost my way in Argolis (that must have been your trick, o Hermes!) and had to walk over 15 miles on foot in a great heat and without much water to drink. O, Hermes, thank you that you showed mercy, seeing the results of your trick, and let me find a source of water in the hose which served the local farmers to irigate the nearby citrus groves.
Also, I ran short of money. Thank you for letting me find a cheap accomodation.
- Ireland, May 2002: I ran out of money due to my prodigality and had to spend three nights outdoors as I could not afford my accomodation. You helped me avoid thieves and other criminals when I was sleeping in the first night with homeless people near the entrance to the bus station in Dublin. Thank you, o Hermes, that you also let me cheat the police who cought me next night, sleeping on a bench in a dark street in the city. I told them, it was my last night and in the morning I was going to fly back to my country. They let me go whithout asking more question. Thank you, o Hermes, that noone bothered me, when I was spending the last night on the airport in Dublin.
- Scotland, Apr 2003: My passport got totally wet in the rain. Thank you, o Hermes, that it did not get damaged completely and I could dry it out and return safely to my country.
And I thank you for all future situations, in which you might want (and may you want!) to aid me. I shall note all of them in the guestbook below as may anyone who whishes to thank Hermes:
Enter your words for Hermes
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Current Amount in My Cashbox:
115 strti.
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