Hermes and the Mystery of his Staff

The Caduceus and Hippocrates

Asclepius

• Patron god of doctors, likeHippocrates

• Son of Apollo• Staff with snake• Killed for bringing people

back to life

Hermes’ Staff vs. Asclepius’ Rod

Zeus fights a Snakey Creature - Typhoeus

Apollo fights a snakey creature - Python

Apollo and the ‘Pythia’

• After defeating the Python at Delphi, he names his priestessthe Pythia

Curve-ball: Gilgamesh• 1,800 BC – Epic of Gilgamesh written• a Sumerian King of Uruk• Ruled ~ 2,500 BC• Sought immortality. • Found a plant of immortality

but someone stole it….. guess who

A serpentine slitherer

The ‘Immortality’ of Serpents

What does this have to do with Hermes’ staff?

Greek: HermesRoman: Mercury

His Name

• Hermes: a ‘herm’ is a boundary stone/marker.– Significance for travelers– Crossing borders

• Mercury: Latin mercari =‘to trade’– How are the Greek and

Roman god connected?

Titles

• Argeiphontes: The Argus-Slayer• Dolios: Crafty/Tricky • Hodios: Highwayman• Oneiropompos: Dream-Conductor• Psychopompos / Psychogogos: Soul-Conductor

Hermes in modern art

Homeric Hymn to Hermes

• read the story. • in groups, discuss, and answer questions

about it.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes• The lyre

Homeric Hymn to Hermes

• How does the ‘hymn’ praise Hermes? • What do we learn about him that is admirable

or awesome?• He is the god of….

Homeric Hymn to Hermes

• How does the ‘hymn’ praise Hermes? • What do we learn about him that is admirable

or awesome?• He is the god of trickery, thieves, exchange,

roads, crossroads, crossing boundaries, and, yes, he is the ‘messenger of the gods’.

Hermes GenealogyZeus

Hermes

Autolycus

Anticleia

Odysseus

Telemachus

Maia

The Greatest Boundary of All: Death

Hermes the Psychopomp(os)

Death

Sleep

The Death of Sarpedon

The Gift Exchange

• Once Zeus gets involved Hermes returns Apollo’s cattle.

• But he soothes his brother’s anger by playing sweet music on his lyre.

• Hermes then gives Apollo his lyre. Apollo is hereafter thought of as the god of music.

• What does Apollo give Hermes in return? ….