CLST 2090 Chapter : Myths Of Hermes
A more complicated god
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Pure good fortune that comes out of nowhere
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Basically the god of Good Luck
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Not because all businessmen are thieves
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Ex. Failure of Edsel
Ex. Success of Frisbee
But because both professions require pure good luck
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Patron god of businessmen and thieves
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Ex. Whoopee Cushion for a 9-year-old
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Sometimes things are so funny that you can't stop laughing, even in inappropriate
situations
How is a practical joke a powerful natural force like sex, the sea, death, etc.?
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God of Practical Joke
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Hermes:
Hermes and Apollo Myth
Hermes is the only god who myths are told about when they're infants. Hermes is the child of Zeus and
Maia. Little is known about Maia except that she gave her name to may. Maia gave birth to Hermes in
her cave. After she left, Hermes got out of his crib to look around. He found a turtle and got an idea. He
killed the turtle, cleaned out its shell, and turned the entrails into strings. Hermes used these strings and
the shell to make an instrument: the lyre. He was so pleased with himself that he walked down the road
to see what else he could find. As he traveled he came across the cattle of Apollo. Because he didn’t
have any he stole 50 of Apollo's. He drove them out of the pen backwards, and into a cave. He then
sacrificed two cattle to the gods for his success. He was then tired and returned to his crib to sleep. In
the meantime Apollo checked on his cattle and noticed there were 50 missing. He asked a farmer what
happened and the farmer said he saw a baby driving cattle backwards. Apollo put two and two together
and went out to find Hermes. He woke the Hermes up and accused him of stealing the cattle. Hermes
played dumb and said "I was only born yesterday" and went back to sleep. He reached into the crib to
shake Hermes and Hermes let out a "thunder clap." Apollo then brought Hermes to Zeus. Zeus told
Hermes to give them back. He returned the 48 cattle he had left and Apollo asked where the other two
cattle were. Hermes told Apollo that he sacrificed them. Apollo went out and found a stick, Hermes saw
the stick and reached in his robe, and pulled out the lyre. He played music and stopped Apollo. They
then cut a deal, if Hermes gave Apollo the lyre he would forgive him. This is why Apollo is the god of
music.
Hermaphroditus
Hermes and Aphrodite had an affair and had a child: Hermaphroditus. As he was reaching puberty, a
nymph offered sex to him. He denied and made the nymph sad. She told him to use the pool if he
wanted to. So he took off his clothes and got in the pool, the nymph then got in the pool and began to
swim toward him forcing embrace. Hermaphroditus tried to fend her off but could not. As she embraced
him she prayed to the gods that they would be joined together in love forever. They then fused together
and were called "Hermaphrodite" (herm-afro-dite-EE).
Myths of Hermes
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
11:37 AM
Greco-Roman Mythology Page 1
Document Summary
Pure good fortune that comes out of nowhere. But because both professions require pure good luck. How is a practical joke a powerful natural force like sex, the sea, death, etc. Sometimes things are so funny that you can"t stop laughing, even in inappropriate situations. Hermes is the only god who myths are told about when they"re infants. Little is known about maia except that she gave her name to may. Maia gave birth to hermes in her cave. After she left, hermes got out of his crib to look around. He found a turtle and got an idea. He killed the turtle, cleaned out its shell, and turned the entrails into strings. Hermes used these strings and the shell to make an instrument: the lyre. He was so pleased with himself that he walked down the road to see what else he could find. As he traveled he came across the cattle of apollo.
