Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and additionally a guide to the Underworld. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics and sports, of weights and measures, of invention, and of commerce in general. His symbols include the tortoise, the rooster, the winged sandals, the winged hat, and the caduceus.In the Roman adaptation of the Greek religion (interpretatio romana), Hermes was identified with the Roman god Mercury, who, though inherited from the Etruscans, developed many similar characteristics, such as being the patron of commerce. Hermes more...
Photo: Head statue of Hermes at Bolu Archaeology Museum, Claudiopolis of Bithynia, Bolu, Turkey, opened recently. More...