Hermes: Greek God, Trickster and Messenger to the Gods

Video

Kelly Macquire
by
published on 02 April 2021

Hermes was the Ancient Greek god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel. He is known as the trickster of the Greek pantheon, and most recognisable is his position as the Messenger to the Gods… well, mostly the messenger for Zeus. Along with being very clever and mischievous, Hermes is credited with the invention of the lyre although he is not the god associated with music!

Hermes was a trickster since his first day of life when he stole Apollo's sacred cows, and then sacrificed two of them to the gods! As the herald of the gods, Hermes became associated with crossing boundaries with his movements between the realm of the gods and the world of mortals. The Caduceus, a staff with two serpents twisted around it, is a symbol of Hermes and his association with the crossing of boundaries and the transitions from this life to the afterlife.

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —
Hermes https://www.worldhistory.org/Hermes/
Greek Mythology https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Mythology/
Apollo https://www.worldhistory.org/apollo/
The Twelve Olympian Gods https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/58/the-12-olympian-gods/
The Desecration of the Statues of Hermes, 415 BCE https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1684/the-desecration-of-the-statues-of-hermes-415-bce/

— WATCH NEXT —
The Legend of Hercules (Herakles): Greatest Hero in Greek Mythology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBUr9MHXsvc&list=PLRIPanKDxKpt0hrcdAAWwRV7jJR_QWHKk&index=15&t=376s
Prometheus, the Titan Who Stole Fire and Gave It to Humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RHbK6YnbWU&list=PLRIPanKDxKpt0hrcdAAWwRV7jJR_QWHKk&index=5&t=10s
Sappho of Lesbos: The Female Poet of Ancient Greece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95SDtZdT8sA&list=PLRIPanKDxKpt0hrcdAAWwRV7jJR_QWHKk&index=16&t=35s

— CHAPTERS —
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Who is Hermes?
4:04 Myths of Hermes
7:19 Worship of Hermes
7:43 Hermes in statues
8:51 Outro

— ATTRIBUTIONS —
You can find all attribution and credits for images, animations, graphics and music here - https://worldhistory.typehut.com/hermes-greek-god-trickster-and-messenger-to-the-gods-images-and-attributions-4161

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:
https://www.ancientlyre.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Dx2vFEg8DmOJ5YCRm4A5v?si=emacIH9CRieFNGXRUyJ9
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ1X6F7lGMEadnNETSzTv8A

— THUMBNAIL IMAGE —
https://member.ancient.eu/image/4604/hermes-winged-sandal/
Mark Cartwright
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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#hermes #greekgodhermes #hermesgreekmythology

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About the Author

Kelly Macquire
Kelly is a graduate from Monash University who has completed her BA (Honours) in Ancient History and Archaeology, focussing on iconography and status in Pylos burials. She has a passion for mythology and the Aegean Bronze Age.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Macquire, K. (2021, April 02). Hermes: Greek God, Trickster and Messenger to the Gods. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2419/hermes-greek-god-trickster-and-messenger-to-the-go/

Chicago Style

Macquire, Kelly. "Hermes: Greek God, Trickster and Messenger to the Gods." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 02, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/video/2419/hermes-greek-god-trickster-and-messenger-to-the-go/.

MLA Style

Macquire, Kelly. "Hermes: Greek God, Trickster and Messenger to the Gods." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 02 Apr 2021. Web. 25 Apr 2024.

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