. Hermes was the Greek messenger god and the son of ZEUS and Maia. When the god accidentally killed him playing discus, he transformed the boy into a crocus flower. She says that she loves Odysseus as a husband and has even offered to make him immortal. 67 ff (trans. A god of prophecy, he had many oracular shrines, the chief one being at Delphi. The ability to travel between realms made Hermes an obvious choice for the herald and messenger of the gods because he could travel where even other deities could not. To her question Atlantis Pleione's grandson answered : I am he who bears his father's mandates through the sky. Demeter in her anger abandoned Olympus and came to live on the earth disguised as a crone. Venus [Aphrodite], in seeking for it, came to him who loved her, and so he, on attaining his desire, as a reward put the eagle in the sky [as the constellation Aquilla]. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. By virtue of his connection with Zeus he was able to secure a modest place for his mother on Olympus. The only thing that held Olympus together, in fact, was the might of Zeus, who presided as supreme judge. After deposing Cronus, Zeus and his brothers drew lots to see which portion of the world would be ruled by each. Finally he got wind of their whereabouts and found two cow hides at Hermes' dwelling. But as though her natural charms were not enough, she also possessed a magical girdle that rendered her irresistible to gods and mortals alike. . Rather than appear himself, Zeus often sent Hermes to issue orders or warnings, and to carry out other errands. This greatly concerns Hades, as he does not want to cheat on either of the women. She accused him, and the rest of the gods, of hypocrisy. At length he managed to trap the serpent in a gorge by Parnassus and promptly slew the monster with his arrows. In addition to being romantically linked, they often worked together to . 16 (trans. Aphrodite took the infant Adonis and entrusted him to Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. NYMPHE (UNNAMED) A nymph of Sicily (southern Italy) who bore Hermes a son named Daphnis. She bore children to the gods Hermes, Poseidon, and Dionysus, two of which were sexually abnormal. It was also decreed that earth, and Olympus in particular . As the kingdom of Death it stands for the state to which every living thing must come. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) "[Daidalion son of Hesperos, god of the evening-star,] had a daughter, Chione, a girl most blessed with beauty's dower, her fourteen years ready for marriage, and her hand was sought by countless suitors. After deposing their father Cronus, Poseidon, Zeus, and Hades shot dice in a helmet for lordship of the world. "Caducifer [Hermes] rose soaring on his wings, and in his flight looked down upon the land [of Attika] that Minerva [Athene] loves and the Munychian fields and the Lyceum's cultivated groves. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. When Apollo discovered his loss he went out searching in all directions for the stolen cattle. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. [see Family], ALKIDAMEA (Alcidamea) A princess of Korinthos (southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son named Bounos. Hades had taken the maiden to be his queen, while Zeus had consented to it. PENELOPEIA (Penelope) An nymph of Arkadia (in southern Greece) who bore to Hermes the god Pan (or one of the Panes named Nomios). Finding only Maia and her newborn in the cave, he ignored the nymphs protests and knew that the infant god was the thief he sought. Zeus, however, was delighted. Calypso was furious that Zeus had commanded her to send Odysseus away. Omissions? In fact Ariadne bore him several children, and when she died he set the crown he had given her in the heavens as a token of his love for her. And in the house she bare Hermes a dear son [the god Pan] who from his birth was marvellouse to look upon, with goat's feet and two horns - a noisy, merry-laughing child. Hermes accidentally killed his lover Krokos in a game of discus, and transformed his body into the scarlet crocus flower. [see Family]. The grain goddess, Demeter, was a full sister to Zeus and an Olympian deity in her own right. ", LOCALE : Athens, Attika (Southern Greece), Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. I'll not invent a reason. Following the theft of Apollos cattle, Zeus welcomed the clever god to Mount Olympus and gave him the role of messenger and herald. The angry Persephone reported this situation to Aphrodite's old lover, Ares, who changed himself into a boar and attacked Adonis, killing the youth. Often she was depicted as a voluptuous nude of striking beauty. Zeus quickly realized, however, that the young god would need to be kept occupied to avoid any more mischief. : Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. Moreover, in each tale the underworld plays an important part. The Norse Loki, for example, was not one of the Aesir gods but was counted as their friend until his trickery became too damaging. Still brooding about her daughter's loss, the goddess laid a curse on the earth that caused every plant to wither. Then, leaving Athens, Pallas' fabled land, he made his way to heaven on beating wings. Relationships - Poseidon- God of the Seas Hades- Brother of Poseidon Hades is the ruler of the underworld, and is married to Persephone. [see Family], EUPOLEMIA A princess of Phthia (northern Greece) who was loved by Hermes. 5 (trans. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) Swerving, he left the sky and flew to earth, and there took in disguise--such trust in his good looks! . Summary and Analysis: Greek Mythology The Beginnings Loves of Zeus. Since Zeus withheld his vote, the goddesses were in the majority so that Athena won. Unlike the other gods, both deities must undergo great suffering, Demeter through the loss of her daughter and Dionysus through his own dismemberment. Nevertheless, she agrees to let him go. The Greeks were a proud people, and they created gods and goddesses who lived by pride. AGLAUROS A princess of Athens in Attika (southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son, Keryx. A randy bachelor, he seduced Phthia, Thalia, Coronis, Aria, Cyrene, and the nymph Dryope, having children by each. . The temple was constructed to be Demeter's dwelling place. But beware of Hermes the god of thieves-he can take advantage of a woman who trusts him. In the end she sat herself outside her sister's door to bar Cyllenius' [Hermes'] access. However, Aphrodite petitioned Zeus to allow Adonis to spend the summer months in her company, and Zeus agreed. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Of these nine daughters [of Asopos, all carried off by gods] . They are Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, and Circe, and Calypso. This then was the reason why the earth was barren in winter Demeter was sorrowing for her lost daughter. In the morning she revealed her true identity, which terrified Anchises. In his dispute with Athena for dominion over Athens, the two gods had a contest as to which one could give the Athenians the best gift. [see Family], THRONIA A princess of Aigyptos (Egypt) who bore Hermes a son, named Arabos. Greek writers all agreed that Hermes was the son of Zeus. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : 6. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. Gods in The Odyssey Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) In the end he had to tolerate her infidelities. But Hera held a grudge against the child and sent the Titans to tear him to pieces, which they did. "Panes, the sons of Hermes, who divided his love between two Nymphai; for one he visited the bed of Sose; for one he visited the bed of Sose, the highland prophetess, and begat a son inspired with the divine voice of prophecy, [the Pan] Agreus, well versed in the beast-slaying sport of the hunt. To Hermes she bore a son Autolykos. "Some say that Penelope [wife of Odysseus] was seduced by Antinous [one the suitors], and returned by Odysseus to her father Ikarios, and that when she reached Mantineia in Arkadia, she bore Pan, to Hermes." Although Maia insisted that the newborn could not yet walk or talk, let alone travel many miles and drive away a herd of cattle, Apollo took the baby to Mount Olympus to be judged by Zeus. This gave Hermes the authority to travel anywhere Zeus sent him, crossing the borders between both earthly lands and cosmic realms. When thrice five years had passed, the youth forsook Ida, his fostering home, his mountain haunts, eager to roam strange lands afar. and three daughters, Agraulos, Herse, and Pandrosos . The young also fell under her care, and because her mother Leto had delivered her without pain Artemis was called upon to help in childbirth. In his lunacy Pentheus decided to spy on the Maenads in their revels and went dressed as a woman. Such was punishment that Atlantiades [Hermes] death Aglauros for her wicked words and will. She recalled it was Aglauros whose profaning hand laid bare that secret when the oath she swore was broken [for she looked into the box containing the baby Erikthonios that Athena had left in the three sister's care but forbidden them to open] and she [Aglauros] saw the infant boy [Erikhthonios], great Lemnicola's [Hephaistos'] child, the babe no mother bore; and now she would find favour with the god and with her sister too, and grow so rich with all that gold her greed had planned to gain. To console himself Apollo made a laurel wreath from her. But Anchises could never walk upright again. Demeter rejected all their gifts and hid her daughter away from the company of the gods. Theoi Project Copyright 2000 - 2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand. 288 ff (trans. Yes, when he saw her on the pyre, four times an impulse came to rush into the flames; four times forced back, he fled away in frenzy; like an ox, its bowed neck stung by hornets, so he charged where no way was. In one account of the contest between Poseidon and Athena for the city of Athens, it is Hermes who prevents the sea godfrom flooding the city in anger after his loss. . The earliest centre of his cult was probably Arcadia, where Mt. KHIONE or PHILONIS (Chione) A princess of Phokis (central Greece) who made love to two gods, Hermes and Apollon, on the same night. Demeter was heartsick at the loss and searched everywhere for her daughter in vain. She also invented mathematics and excelled in the arts of cooking, spinning, and weaving. From the time of her birth to the naming contest of the great city of Athens and long after, Poseidon seems to have a . After nine days of hunting she found Helios, the sun god, who told her what had happened. Aphrodite infected the girl with an incestuous love for the king, her father. Pan, son of Mercurius [Hermes] and Penelope. ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 271 (trans. Demeter had one daughter, Persephone or Core, whom she adored. with them the Seilenoi and the sharp-eyed Argeiphontes [Hermes] mate in the depths of pleasant caves. As a messenger, he may also have become the god of roads and doorways, and he was the protector of travellers. BRIMO A goddess of the underworld (probably Hekate), whose virginity was lost to Hermes on the banks of the Thessalian Lake Boibeis. I'm not trying to spread faith but this seems like the best place to ask about hermes and poseidons opinions. Yet the marriage was not very happy for her because Poseidon, like Zeus, persisted in extramarital affairs. . By Apollo she bore Philammon, and by Mercurius [Hermes], Autolycus. The name Odysseus relates to the Greek verb odussomai, which can mean "to be angry at," or "to be grieved.". ]", Homer, Iliad 16. The Homeric epics, the Olympic games, the dialogs of Plato, the drama festivals, the public trials, and the recurrent warfare between Greek cities all bear witness to the prevalence of conflict in Greek culture. . Hermes, Greek god, son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia; often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus, one of the Cabeiri. . " Let there be peace between Poseidon and Hermes" said Aphrodite. He was shocked when Poseidon called him his brother, noting that was the first time he had ever . Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) After admitting that he had sacrificed the two dead cows to the gods, Hermes promised to deliver the rest of the herd to Apollo. ", For MORE information on these deities see APHRODITE and HERMAPHRODITOS, LOCALE : Lake Boibeis, Thessalia (Northern Greece) OR Eleusis, Attika (Southern Greece). one was dying in battle due to this which was messing with Ares line of work so he broke . Persephone, Latin Proserpina or Proserpine, in Greek religion, daughter of Zeus, the chief god, and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; she was the wife of Hades, king of the underworld. ", Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. And now a hawk, benign to one, he vents his savagery on every bird and, as in grief he goes, ensures that others grieve and share his woes. TANAGRA A Naiad-nymph of Argos (isouthern Greece) for whom the gods Ares and Hermes competed in a boxing match. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 160 (trans. He ordered the whole group chained and imprisoned, against the sound advice of Teiresias the seer. . It is this reciprocity that is a major attribute of Hermes, the god of transitions, communication, to and from, and exchange. Gods like these would have found the Sermon on the Mount unintelligible. On the girl's breast she laid her withering hand and filled her heart with thorny briars and breathing a baleful blight deep down into her bones and spread a stream of poison, black as pitch, inside her lungs. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) "The deep-breasted Mountain Nymphai [Oreades] who inhabit this great and holy mountain . Hermes tells Calypso that Zeus commands her to release Odysseus. For there, though a god, he used to tend curly-fleeced sheep in the service of a mortal man, because there fell on him and waxed a strong melting desire to wed the rich-tressed daughter of Dryopos [Penelopeia or Sose], and there he brought about the merry marriage. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 5. The dual roles Hermes played in Greek mythology both linked him to the lawful, stern ruled of Mount Olympus. 39 (trans. The implied reciprocity of this verb makes Odysseus, " the giver and receiver of pain ". Helios reported her misconduct to Hephaestus, who fashioned a very fine but powerful net and suspended it above his wife's bed. ", Corinna, Fragment 666 : Such thoughts were agony: Aglauros pined in private grief, distraught all night, all day, in utter misery, wasting away in slow decline, like ice marred by a fitful sun. The third vegetation tale, that of Aphrodite and Adonis, is a restatement of the myth of Ishtar and Tammuz, which appears under "Babylonian Mythology." ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 201 : He was also a phallic god, and pillars with a head called herms were set up in front of Greek homes. . APHRODITE The goddess of love was seduced by Hermes with the help of Zeus and a stolen sandal. Talk to Hermes with a fully upgraded (three-star) Lambent Plume, which is his keepsake. Please like and share this article if you found it useful. He could inspire men with lofty visions or degrade them into raving savages through his powers of intoxication. ", For MORE information on this goddess see DAEIRA and HEKATE, Nonnus, Dionysiaca 8. ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 200 (trans. Sadly I [King Keyx, brother of Daidalion] held her, feeling in my heart her father's grief, and gave my brother words of comfort, for he loved her--words he heard as rocks the roaring waves--and bitterly bewailed his daughter's loss. "[Althaimenes grandson of Minos] left Krete with his sister Apemosyne and went to a certain place on Rhodes . "Lord Hermes . Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. 552 ff (trans. From its shell Hermes created the lyre, and with it he lulled his mother Maia to sleep, which left him free to do as he pleased. "All that dwelt in Olympos were bewitched by this one girl [Persephone], rivals in love for the marriageable maid, and offered their dowers for an unsmirched bridal. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : As the wife of Hades, king of the underworld, Persephone is considered a Greek goddess and is often coined the queen of the underworld. The god of the underworld, Hades, desired her. . : Out of all of his brothers, Poseidon seems to be the one Hades cared the most about. 1y Legendary fish are the 3rd fish in the codex for each biome. "Brimo, who as legend tells, by the waters of Boebeis laid her virgin body at Mercurius' [Hermes'] side. Cephalus by Creusa [probably the same as Herse], daughter of Erechtheus. Born a thief and a liar, he uses his wits to both help and aggravate the other gods of the pantheon. The rustic god Pan, for example, is known to have been a trickster-type god who fell out of favor in Greece and was later reintroduced as the sun of Hermes. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : Propertius, Elegies 2. The Beginnings Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, and Dionysus, The Heroes Perseus, Bellerophon, and Heracles, The Beginnings Poseidon, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Hermes, Demeter, and Dionysus, Summary and Analysis: Babylonian Mythology, The Beginnings Prometheus and Man, and The Five Ages of Man and the Flood, The Tragic Dynasties Crete: The House Of Minos, The Tragic Dynasties Mycenae: The House Of Atreus, The Tragic Dynasties Thebes: The House of Cadmus, The Tragic Dynasties Athens: The House of Erichthonius, The Trojan War The Preliminaries, The Course of the War, The Fall of Troy, and The Returns, Patriotic Legends Aeneas and Romulus and Remus, Love Tales Pyramus and Thisbe, Baucis and Philemon, Pygmalion, Vertumnus and Pomona, Hero and Leander, Cupid and Psyche, The Norse Gods Odin, Thor, Balder, Frey, Freya, and Loki, Merlin, King Arthur, Gawain, Launcelot, Geraint, Tristram, Percivale, the Grail Quest, and the Passing of Arthur's Realm. . The happiness of lucky Herse smouldered in her heart like green thorns on a fire that never flame nor give good heat but wanly burn away. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) She bore him a son Euandros, with whom she emmigrated to Latium (in Italia). Four days after he was born Apollo called for a bow and arrows. 153. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th to 4th B.C.) The sources of these tales range from Homer to Ovid, a span of about eight hundred years. Apollo was dedicated to the truth and, although he and Hermes would later become friends, was furious at the blatant lie. to C1st A.D.) : Cicero, De Natura Deorum 3. His functions were related to travel for the most part, as a god of the roads, of commerce, of thievery, and an usher of the dead in the netherworld. 8. Then luck-bringing Hermes received him and took him in his arms: very glad in his heart was the god. The king of the gods, who was more often known to be stern and strict, was delighted by his mischievous new son. She particularly prided herself on the ability to weave, and when a princess from Colophon, Arachne, produced a flawless tapestry the angry goddess changed her into a spider. Fairbanks) (Greek rhetorician C3rd A.D.) . Apollo delayed till night his hopes of love; Mercurius [Hermes] would not wait and with his wand that soothes to slumber touched her on the lips; touch-tranced she lay and suffered his assault. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Moreover, he demanded that Zeus return the dowry he had paid for his wife, but Zeus was disgusted with the whole affair and left. Since nothing would grow, the lands became desolate and inhospitable to life. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Apollo again gained the victory, emerging as the undisputed master musician. . The cleverest and most precocious god was Hermes. Kronos is the Titan God of Time, the husband of Rhea, and the father of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Homeric Hymn 19 to Pan (trans. And Ares mentioned my brutality after having killed about 9000 foes. In his other role as messenger, Hermes would have been further linked to the king of the gods. Since his mother Semele was a mortal, Dionysus had the status of a demi-god. Hermes relayed Zeus's command that Odysseus needed to leave the island and return to his human family. However, as an agricultural goddess her destiny was more closely bound to the earth than to the celestial regions of Olympus. As the god of the vine Dionysus was closely connected to the earth. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. In The Odyssey, Hermes impacts the play by guiding the traveler Odysseus to retrieve his men safely. There he was especially worshipped as the god of fertility, and his images were ithyphallic. ", For MORE information on these nymphs see OREIADES, LOCALE : Doros, Thessalia (Northern Greece), Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. Sex and gender Transgender. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) Pentheus' own mother ripped his head off while the others tore him limb from limb. The theft and role of messenger show two different archetypes that combined, uniquely, in Hermes. Hermes thus left behind his propensity for telling lies and instead carried the words of his father across the world. 10 (trans. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 4. Odysseus was not destined to live out his life with Calypso, and Zeus ordered the nymph to obey the dictates of fate. Once Hephaestus tried to violate her, but Athena managed to defend herself and Hephaestus spilled his seed on the ground, which gave birth to Erichthonius. Hermes is one of five Olympian gods (the other four being Demeter, Zeus, Poseidon and Aphrodite) who will not appear in the very first run of a save. Dionysus shattered Pentheus' palace and drove him mad. She said that no harm would befall him unless he revealed her secret tryst with him. His mother was a reclusive nymph named Maia. And since his soul descended to the underworld, Persephone at last had him all to herself. Zeus started to worry and finally sent Hermes down to the netherworld to fetch Persephone back to her mother. Yet he could also be deadly as he shot his terrible arrows and created plagues. 21-23 (trans. Campbell, Vol. Hermes The wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. 105 ff (trans. Tanagra [eponym of the Boiotian town], was seized by Hermes. Zeus- Brother of Poseidon Zeus is the brother of Poseidon, and the almighty ruler of the gods. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. According to the myths, Zeus was the king and the three divided power between the realms. hermes Poseidon's relationship to sexuality may be termed: policing When we call someone a psychopomp, we're calling them a (n) ______________. 38. Poseidon mentioned my fishing abilities after having caught approx 30 fishes (and I had caught one that run). This put him in even closer contact with Zeus and made him an assistant rather than an antagonist. Thus, Zeus is the most obvious and sensible choice for the father of the clever messenger god. Is glory not a curse as well? Kronos was said to be the most feared tyrant in the cosmos, but was dethroned by his children when they lead a rebellion against him known as the Titanomachy. Thus it is natural that Poseidon be tempestuous as the god of the sea, or that Artemis be mannish as the goddess of the forest, or that Hermes be clever as a god of commerce and thievery, or that Aphrodite be seductive as the goddess of love, and so on. there where his sacred place is as god of Kyllene. LOCALE : Aitolia (Central Greece) AND Amythaonia (Egypt) OR Mt Ida, Troia (Anatolia), Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. SOSE An nymph of Arkadia (in southern Greece) and Prophetess of the god Hermes. The messenger god has few parallels in other Indo-European myths, so it is likely that this was a uniquely Greek creation. . In retaliation Apollo killed Zeus's armorers, the Cyclopes. They had sex in Syria [and became ancestors of the kings of Kypros]. Romance. In one case Amphitrite transformed her husband's mistress into a loathsome, barking monster. The warrior goddess [Athena] turned her angry eyes upon the girl and heaved a sigh so deep that breast and aegis shuddered. The Maenads rushed upon Pentheus, thinking him a wild beast. He helps the young explorer both on Circe's island and in the nymph Calypso's mainland. As Zeuss herald, he also had the power to speak Zeuss commands and carry out his will. During the Trojan War, it was Hermes who was sent to steal something that was otherwise unobtainable. Phoebus [Apollon], as it chanced, and the son of Maia [Hermes], on their way back, the one from Delphi, the other from Cyllene's crest, both saw her, both alike caught love's hot fire. Thanks lounge and bedroom upgrades for keeping track lol. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. . Yet, Persephone was allowed to remain with Demeter for eight months of a year even if she had to spend the other four in the underworld. Yet these myths show a certain consistency. Rackham) (Roman rhetorician C1st B.C.) The master of the lyre and song, Apollo was especially vain about his musical prowess, and kept the Muses as part of his retinue. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) "Hermes . Definitely not a goddess to be trifled with, Athena was once assaulted by the furious Ares, who struck her on her invincible breastplate, the aegis. Just as the grain springs up every year after its harvest and wintry death, so the members of this cult believed that the human soul would be reborn after the body's death. And often one or both of the disputants were unhappy at the outcome. The Norse Hermod is similar, but his mythology is much less well-defined or prominent. She bore him a son named Kydon. Because there is a traditional link between the trickster archetype and the thunder king type, Zeus was a logical god to make this connection with. Both the trickster thief and the realm-crossing psychopomp are familiar gods in many religions. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 277 (trans. When Hermes delivered Persephone to her mother, Demeter was saddened to learn that Hades now had a permanent claim on her daughter. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) She dared to set herself above Diana [Artemis], faulting her fair face. . Poseidon (Neptune) Poseidon was the brother of Zeus and the god of the ocean. A curse indeed to many! 29C (trans. She was usually depicted in long robes carrying a bow and quiver, and she was accompanied by a troop of woodland nymphs. . Zeus's brother Poseidon gained control of the sea as his portion of the world. Apollo and Hermes jested about how they would not mind being caught in the net with such an attractive goddess; and Poseidon became enamored of Aphrodite and offered to guarantee payment of the dowry, should Ares default. Her womb fulfilled its time and to the wing-foot god a wily brat was born, Autolycus, adept at tricks off every kind, well used to make black white, white black, a son who kept his father's skill. Smut. ", Ovid, Metamorphoses 2. Hermes presented himself to Zeus as a new god and promised never to steal or tell a lie again. Immediately after he was born he went out and killed a tortoise. She arrived at Eleusis and was taken into the home of Prince Celeus and his wife Metaneira, where she was allowed to nurse their son Demophoon. Aglauros first marked Mercurius' [Hermes'] approach and boldly asked the god his name and business. As the messenger of the gods, he was permitted to travel anywhere, including the Underworld. ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 277 (trans. She was a redoubtable fighter and took an active part in the war against the Giants and in the Trojan War. In response, Calypso angrily shouts that the gods become jealous when goddesses sleep with mortals, though they often sleep with mortal women. RHENE A nymph of the island of Samothrake (Greek Aegean) who bore a son Saon to Hermes. Even as Lucifer (the morning star) more brilliant shines than all the stars, or as golden Phoebe (the Moon) outshines Lucifer (the morning star), so Herse walked among her comrades, lovelier than them all, the fairest jewel of the festival. Often she'd rather die than see such sights; often she meant, as if some crime, to tell the tale to her strict father. On board the ship the pirates tried to chain him, but their attempt was fruitless, for the shackles kept falling off. Zeus won the sky, Hades the underworld, and Poseidon the sea. But after Eileithyia of the hard pains had brought out the child into the light, and he looked on the sun's shining, Aktor's son Ekhekles in the majesty of his great power led her to his house, when he had given numberless gifts to win her, and the old man Phylas took the child and brought him up kindly and cared for him, in affection as if he had been his own son.