Hermes Myths, Powers, & Roles in Greek Mythology

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Plus expert-backed explanations of Hermes’ symbols & stories

Co-authored by Maria Souza and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: April 1, 2026 Fact Checked

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Myths of Hermes

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Who is Hermes?

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Symbols & Sacred Objects

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Family Tree

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More Greek Mythology

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Hermes is one of the more low-key of the Twelve Olympians (at least according to frequent troublemakers, like Zeus and Aphrodite). However, as a messenger of the gods, Hermes actually has a hand in more stories, myths, and legends than you might think! Fortunately, we’ve gathered and summarized all of the most important myths that involve Hermes, and we’ll also tell you everything you need to know about the god, including his sacred symbols, family tree, and more.

Most Famous Hermes Myths

Apollo’s Cattle: Hermes stole sacred cows from Apollo, but invented the lyre (and music!) to assuage Apollo and trade him for the cattle.
Punishment of Battos: Battos was a shepherd who saw Hermes steal the cows, but when he gave up the cattle’s location, Hermes turned him into stone.
Argus Panoptes: The giant Argus was tasked to guard a nymph by Hera, but Zeus asked Hermes to charm Argus, kill him, and rescue the nymph.
Perseus & Medusa: Hermes gifts Perseus his winged shoes so that he can quickly fly to Medusa’s lair, where he beheads the Gorgon and kills her.
Odysseus & Circe: Hermes gifts Odysseus an herb to protect him against Circe’s spells, after she already turned all of Odysseus’s men into swine.

Section 1 of 5:

12 Greek Myths With Hermes

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The Theft of Apollo’s Cattle This myth occurs on Hermes’ first day of life, when he was just an (already mischievous) infant god. Shortly after his birth, Hermes stole 50 of Apollo’s sacred cattle and attached brooms to their tails in order to hide their tracks and confuse Apollo. However, the theft of the cows was witnessed by Battos, a mortal shepherd. Battos told Apollo what had happened, so Apollo found Hermes and took him to Zeus for punishment.^{[1]
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- Hermes, however, quickly grabbed a tortoise shell (and some other materials) and turned them into a lyre. He created music with the lyre, which calmed and charmed Apollo and Zeus. Apollo let Hermes keep the cattle, as long as Apollo could keep the lyre.
- Apollo went on to become known as the god of music, and he’s also frequently depicted with the lyre.
Adjacent to the myth of Apollo’s cattle and the lyre is the tale of Battos, the shepherd who witnessed the infant Hermes’ theft. Hermes initially gave a cow to Battos to keep him quiet about the crime, but he later returned in disguise to see if Battos would give up Hermes’ secret hiding spot. Battos did reveal the location of the stolen cattle, leading Hermes to turn him into stone.^{[2]
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The Slaying of Argus Panoptes Argus Panoptes was a hundred-eyed giant who’d been asked by Hera to guard Io, a nymph that Zeus had fallen in love with before Hera transformed her into a white cow. Wishing to see Io, Zeus asked Hermes to kill Argus and free Io. So, Hermes used his signature wit and cunning to disguise himself as a shepherd, play a melodic tune on his pipes, and lull Argus into a sleep. Then, Hermes killed Argus (with a sword, in some versions, and with a rock in others).^{[3]
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- Hera was still able to torment Io, even after these events. The queen goddess sent a fly to continuously bother Io and force her to wander around Europe and Asia. Eventually, she reached Egypt, where Zeus transformed her back into a human.
- Meanwhile, to honor Argus, Hera took his one-hundred eyes and put them into the tail of a peacock, which is one of Hera’s sacred symbols.
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Chione’s Twins Chione was a mortal princess and the daughter of Daedalion, who was a Greek warrior king and demigod. Chione was well known for her immense beauty, which led her to be lusted after by two gods: Apollo and Hermes. In one day, both of these gods sexually assaulted her—Hermes put her under a spell and did so while she slept, while Apollo transformed into an old woman to gain access to her bedroom before assaulting her. As a result, Chione bore two twins, one by each god.^{[4]
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- According to myth, Chione later boasted that she was more beautiful even than Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. In an act of revenge, Artemis pierced Chione’s tongue with an arrow and killed her.^{[5]
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- At Chione’s funeral, her father tried to throw himself onto her funeral pyre. While Daedalion was jumping midair, however, Apollo transformed him into a hawk out of pity.
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The Giant Typhoeus Typhoeus is one of the most terrifying monsters in Greek mythology, and he’s often referred to as the “Father of All Monsters.” He’s a winged, snake-like, fire-breathing giant who was created to dethrone Zeus and destroy the gods of Mount Olympus. Initially, when Typhoeus attacked Olympus, the gods fled and went into hiding (including Hermes, who disguised himself as an ibis), with only Zeus and Athena remaining to fight. Typhoeus ultimately won this fight, and he tore out Zeus’ tendons (or sinews) and left the god immobilized. Typhoeus, meanwhile, hid the sinews in the Corycian Cave and left them guarded by Delphyne, a dragoness.^{[6]
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- Hermes, however, used his stealth and cunning to distract Delphyne and enter the cave. He then found the sinews and brought them back to Zeus.
- Able to fight once again, Zeus eventually overpowered and won against the giant Typhoeus.^{[7]
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The War of the Giants In Greek myth, the War of the Giants happens when Gaia’s sons—all of whom were giants—revolted against Zeus in an attempt to seize Mount Olympus. Gaia ordered her sons to initiate this war due to her anger over the imprisonment of the Titans. The Olympian gods were then told that they needed a mortal to win, which ended up being Heracles (or Hercules), who was a son of Zeus. While Heracles is credited with delivering the final blow to most of the giants, all of the gods worked together to defeat them—including Hermes.^{[8]
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- Hermes served as a messenger in the battles, delivering items and information among the gods. However, he was also an active fighter and notably killed the giant Hippolytus.^{[9]
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Pan is (arguably) the most famous child of Hermes, and he was born to Hermes and a woodland nymph, who is alternately named as Dryope or Penelope. According to Pan’s birth myth, he was born in the Greek region of Arcadia with goat-like legs, horns, and a long beard. His immediately joyful, mischievous, and boisterous nature delighted Hermes, who wrapped him in rabbit skins and carried him to Mount Olympus. The gods then named him “Pan,” meaning “all,” because the infant brought joy to all! As an adult, Pan became known as the god of shepherds, hunters, and untamed wilderness.^{[10]
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Perseus & Medusa In mythology, Perseus is a demigod and Greek hero who was instructed by King Polydectes to cut off the head of Medusa, a Gorgon woman who could turn people to stone just by looking at them. To aid in his task, Perseus “receives tools from the gods,” details comparative mythologist Maria Souza. He’s given “an invisibility cloak,” a “reflective shield from Athena,” and “winged shoes” from Hermes, continues Souza.^{[11]
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Maria Souza
Comparative Mythologist

Expert Interview} Then, Perseus travels to Medusa’s lair and uses the reflective bronze shield to (safely) set his eyes on Medusa before decapitating her in her sleep.
- Later, Medusa’s head “is used as a weapon in battles,” adds Souza, “and it’s later given to Athena, who places it on her Aegis” or shield.^{[12]
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Odysseus & Circe Circe’s island is one of the most famous stops on Odysseus’ journey in The Odyssey, and Hermes has an important role to play there! First of all, Odysseus and his crew land on the island of Aeaea, which is occupied by the sorceress Circe. Circe ends up turning Odysseus’s men into swine, leading Odysseus to try to save them. Odysseus, however, is intercepted by Hermes, who tells the Greek hero that Circe is leading him into a trap. To help Odysseus, Hermes gives him an herb called “moly,” which has magical properties that will protect Odysseus from Circe’s spells.^{[13]
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- Circe ends up trying (and failing) to transform Odysseus into a pig, leading the sorceress to surrender and transform the men back into their human forms.
- However, Odysseus and his crew end up staying on the island for a year anyway, after Circe and Odysseus begin an amorous relationship.
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Psyche & Eros In the tale of Psyche and Eros, which Souza describes as one of the greatest love stories in Greek mythology, Hermes plays an important role as a messenger and transporter of beings.^{[14]
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Maria Souza
Comparative Mythologist

Expert Interview} The myth begins when Aphrodite notices the mortal Psyche and is threatened by the girl’s immense beauty. Aphrodite then orders her son (Eros) to curse Psyche by forcing her to love someone cruel or vile. However, when Eros sees Psyche, he’s immediately smitten with her beauty (although, in some tellings, he accidentally pricks himself with one of his arrows while gazing upon her). Either way, Eros quickly falls in love and decides not to follow his mother’s orders.^{[15]
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- Eros hides Psyche away in a hidden palace, but he doesn’t let the mortal girl see his face and visits her only in the darkness of night.
- Eventually, however, Psyche’s sisters convince her that this man must be a monster if he won’t reveal his face to her. So, one night, when Psyche and Eros are sleeping in bed together, Psyche lights an oil lamp to see his face. However, a drop of hot oil falls onto Eros and wakes him.
- Eros flees immediately, feeling betrayed by Psyche, who broke her promise to never look upon his face. Psyche searches for Eros but, when she can’t find him, goes to Aphrodite’s palace and asks for help. Aphrodite gives her four trials to complete, the last of which involves descending to the Underworld.
- Ultimately, Eros goes to Zeus and asks him to retrieve Psyche from the Underworld and make her immortal so that the pair can officially be married. Zeus sends Hermes, who transports Psyche from the Underworld to Mount Olympus, where she’s made into a god.
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The Creation of Pandora Pandora is best known for opening a box that released all of mankind’s woes. However, did you know that Hermes had a major role to play in her creation story as the first woman of Greek myth? Zeus ordered her creation, but several gods contributed to her final form and personality. Hephaestus molded her figure, Aphrodite gave her beauty, and Hera gave her curiosity. Hermes, however, gave her a cunning and crafty nature, as well as her name, which means “all-gifted.” Hermes also gives Pandora her sealed box (which she’s forbidden to open) and delivers her to Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus.^{[16]
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- Of course, this story ends with Pandora’s curiosity getting the better of her. She opens the box and releases all types of miseries upon the world, leaving only “Hope” left inside the container.
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The Judgement of Paris The Judgement of Paris is an important Greek myth, and also the kickstarter to the Trojan War and the events of Homer’s The Iliad (and, by extension, The Odyssey). In this myth, the Trojan prince Paris receives a golden apple from Eris, the goddess of discord. The words “for the fairest” are carved into the apple, and Paris is tasked with choosing who is the fairest among the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. To influence Paris’ choice, each goddess offers him a gift—but Aphrodite wins by offering Paris the hand of Helen, the most beautiful mortal woman.^{[17]
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- But what is the role of Hermes in this myth? Hermes chaperones the three goddesses to meet Paris on Mount Ida, and he also tells Paris that he can’t avoid this decision and has a responsibility to make it.^{[18]
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Section 2 of 5:

Who is Hermes, and what is he the god of?

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Hermes is the Greek messenger god of commerce, thieves, language, and more. Hermes is one of the Twelve Olympians, but his most important role is as Messenger of the Gods. He can quickly move between the divine and mortal realms, and he’s often employed to send messages or deliver items between gods and mortals. He’s also able to easily travel to the Underworld, so he usually guides souls there before they’re ferried across the River Styx.^{[19]
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- Aside from his role as a messenger, Hermes is also the patron god and protector of travelers, merchants, and sailors.
- Hermes is also called a “trickster god” due to his immense wit and cunning. So, he’s also associated with mischief, invention, cleverness, and thievery.
- In other tellings, Hermes rules over boundaries, roads, athletes, shepherds, commerce, and speed. He’s also said to have invented the alphabet and taught several languages to humans, making him a god of language, writing, and oration.^{[20]
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Section 3 of 5:

Hermes Symbols & Sacred Objects

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Hermes’ main symbols are the caduceus, winged sandals, and a winged helmet. “The caduceus [is a] staff with two serpents,” describes Elianne El-Amyouni, Doctor of Philosophy. “[It] symbolizes balance, duality, healing, and the union of opposites. [Hermes] is the messenger between worlds,” so the caduceus staff represents his knack for negotiating and communicating between two parties.^{[21]
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Elianne El-Amyouni
Doctor of Philosophy

Expert Interview} Hermes is also famously represented by his winged sandals (“talaria” ) and his winged helmet or hat (“petasos”). Both of these objects represent his speed, as well as his roles as a messenger of the gods and a protector of travelers.^{[22]
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- Other symbols of Hermes include the lyre, a satchel or a pouch, and “herms,” or stone pillars that are topped with Hermes’ head and used for protection at important boundaries.
- Some animals and plants are also sacred to Hermes, including rams, tortoises, hawks, hares, snakes, crocuses, strawberry trees, and olive trees.
- Other sacred objects are traditionally offered to Hermes as offerings, such as coins, honey, wine, milk, and frankincense or lavender incense.

Section 4 of 5:

Hermes Family Tree

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Hermes is the son of Zeus and Maia, with an extensive Olympian family tree. Hermes is one of the Twelve Olympians, meaning that he is somehow related to all of the other major Greek gods and goddesses, specifically by way of his father: Zeus, King of the Gods. Hermes’ mother, according to most tellings, is the Pleiad nymph Maia.^{[23]
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Research source} Hermes’ paternal grandparents are Cronus, the Titan god of time and the harvest, and Rhea, the Titan goddess of motherhood and fertility.
- On his father’s side, Hermes has potentially hundreds of half-siblings, including the following:
  - Apollo
  - Ares
  - Artemis
  - Athena
  - Dionysus
  - Helen of Sparta
  - Heracles
  - King Minos of Crete
  - King Tantalus of Crete
  - Perseus
  - Persephone
  - The Fates
  - The Graces
  - The Muses
- Hermes also bore children of his own, including:
  - Abderus
  - Aethilades
  - Angelia
  - Autolycus
  - Hermaphroditus
  - Lycus
  - Palaestra
  - Pan
  - Pherespondus
  - Pronomus