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Hermes, the Greek messenger god, is a god of many accolades, trickster, thief, guide and smart. Hermes is the god of travellers and boundaries, of shepherds and cowherds, or literature, of athletics, of invention, of weights and measures, of commerce, and of thieves and liars. Appearing in many tales, Hermes is primarily portrayed as a good god, having none of the vengefulness of other gods or goddesses.

Hermes was the son of Zeus, whose mother was Maia, a mountain nymph, and a daughter of the Titan Atlas. Zeus got Maia pregnant in the middle of the night, whilst the other gods slept, and before dawn Hermes was born. Maia gave birth to Hermes in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.

As a newborn, Hermes got his first chance to be a prankster and thief, and by nightfall of his first day he had travelled to Thessaly and rustled the immortal cattle of his brother, Apollo. Hiding the cattle in a small grotto, Hermes started back to his mother. Before returning though he saw a tortoise, and immediately saw the opportunity of its shell as a musical instrument, using the shell and the intestines of a cow, Hermes created the first Lyre. The first evidence that Hermes was indeed the cleverest, as was later claimed. Apollo was not amused when he found he had been robbed, and promptly accused Hermes. Hermes' mother though provided Hermes an alibi, believing that he had been in the cave all night. Zeus, though intervened having watched the whole thing, and told Hermes he was to return the cattle. Hermes during the argument had taken up his lyre and started to play, enchanted by the music Apollo, agreed to an exchange of his cattle for the lyre, which became one of his symbols. Later on Hermes also invented the pan-pipes and flute as he watched over his new cattle. Again Apollo desired these instruments and traded his golden wand with Hermes.

Zeus gave Hermes the role of messenger of the gods, in this role Hermes delivered messages from Mount Olympus to both mortals and immortals. Hermes was given this vital role because as well as being the fastest of all gods, Zeus saw him as being the most loyal. As a messenger Hermes also served as a psycho-pomp, a guide for the dead souls on there way to the underworld, and was one of the few gods, other than Hades, who could enter and leave as he wished. Hermes is traditionally portrayed wearing a winged cap and winged sandals, and carrying his herald's staff (the kerykeion). As befitted a guide to the lost souls, Hermes would wear the

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