Symbol or Attribute:His staff, called kerykerion in Greek, caduceus in Latin. This is the symbol used by doctors, though Hermes' connection with healing is faint. He is, however, the god of merchants.
Strengths: Clever, bold, determined, athletic, a powerful magician. Can charm monsters with his flute or lyre music.
Weaknesses: No major weakness unless you count seldom staying still for long. Hermes has it together.
Birthplace: Born in a cave on Mount Cylene in Arcadia to Maia, who had just slept with his father Zeus the night before. Talk about quick consequences!
Spouse: Hasn't settled down yet.
Children:By his affair with Dryope, Pan, lusty god of the wild; by the Goddess of Love Aphrodite, Hermaphroditus, a half-man, half-woman deity; Abderus (mother unknown).
Some Major Temple Sites: Generally, Hermes did not have temples. His statue was placed everywhere, and square blocks of marble showing a head and the male genitalia were called "Herms" and set up in many places. On these statues, Hermes is generally shown with a beard.
Basic Story: Hermes is the herald of the gods and also leads human souls into and occasionally out of the underworld. Zeus used him as a troubleshooter and secret-agent type, dispatching him to take care of assorted problems - he put Argos to sleep so Io could escape from Zeus's outraged wife Hera. Hermes also arranged for Odysseus to slip away from Callisto, among many other tasks.
Interesting Fact: Hermes shows up in the Roman pantheon under the name Mercury. He also is said to have invented the lyre from a turtle shell.
More Fast Facts on Greek Gods and Goddesses:
Olympian Gods and Goddesses - Greek Gods and Goddesses at Home - Aphrodite - Apollo - Ares - Artemis - Athena - Demeter- Hades - Hephaestus- Hera - Hercules - Hermes - Pan- Persephone - Zeus.
Stop here for free Clip Art of the Greek Gods and Goddesses.
