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Literary References to Hermes

Sending the bastard Philip Falconbridge on an urgent diplomatic mission, Shakespeare’s King John commands: ‘Be Mercury, set feathers to thy heels, / And fly like thought from them to me again’ (King John, IV.ii.)

Stop! Think!

Did you know: the Greek post office has Hermes as its symbol.

The term ‘mercurial’ originally meant ‘like the god Mercury’, referring to someone who was inventive, eloquent or had good business sense.  Over time, however, the word became associated with the properties of the metal mercury, and a mercurial person was understood to be quick-witted and volatile.

Other Gods and Goddesses:

Sculpture of Hermes by Lysippos, c. 350 BC

Hermes

Roman name: Mercury

Swift-footed Mercury

One of the twelve Olympian gods, Hermes was the son of Zeus and the nymph Maia.

His main responsibility was to bear messages between the gods and from gods to mortals.  He also accompanied the dead to the Underworld. 

Hermes protected travellers and watched over roadways.  Associated with travel and commerce, his counterpart was the Olympian goddess, Hestia, who protected the hearth and domestic life.

?The perfect date? : Sporty, musical, virile and charming...

Hermes was a god of good luck. Various stories of his dealings with other gods bear witness to his cunning and shrewdness.  He was renowned for his eloquence and commercial acumen.  Gain, both honest and dishonest, was within his power, and treasure found by chance was attributed to him. 

Hermes is associated with music, and is credited with inventing various musical instruments, including the lyre, flute and pan pipes.  He was even credited with inventing music itself.

Because of his great speed, Hermes was celebrated for his athleticism.  He was credited with inventing running races and boxing, and there were statues of him at the entrances to many gymnasia.

Originally Hermes was a fertility god.  He is occasionally named as the father of Pan, another fertility god.