HermesMercury

Of Hermes, Kyllenian god and slayer of Argos, I sing, who over Kellene reigns and Arkadia rich in flocks, the immortals’ speedy messenger. Maia gave him birth, Atlas’ daughter, having joined in love with Zeus, being worthy of reverence. Shunning the throng of blessed gods, she dwelt in a deep-shaded cave, where Kronos’ son used to join with the nymph whose tresses are fair at the milking-time of night, while Hera whose arms are pale in the sweetness of sleep was clasped, and neither immortal gods nor mortals knew.

Homeric Hymn 19

• At dawn he was born, at midday was playing the lyre, and stole at evening cattle owned by Apollo who shoots from afar, on d the day that queenly Maia bore him, the fourth of the month. When he leaped from his mother’s deathless limbs, he did not for long remain in the sacred winnowing fan, but jumped up to search for Apollo’s cattle, and over the vaulted cave’s threshold went.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, p.43.

• He found a tortoise there, and vast good fortune gained: Hermes it was who made the tortoise a singer first. At the courtyard gates she met him, grazing in front of the house on the thickly flourishing grass, and moving with waddling steps. The speedy son of Zeus with a laugh at the sight at once said: ‘Already I have a sign of great profit: I make no complain. Hello there, shapely charmer who beats out time for the dance, you feast’s companion who come most welcome to view! But where did you get this beautiful toy, a glittering shell, to put on, you tortoise who live in the mountain? No matter, into the house I will bring you; no slights will you get from me in return for your help….he returned back into the house, the lovely toy in his grasp. There tossing her up, with a knife of grey iron he scooped out the flesh of the tortoise that dwelt in the mountains….cutting reed shafts to measure, he fitted them, piercing the back, through the shell of the tortoise; about it he stretched with his cunning the hide of a cow, affixed the arms and fastened the yoke to them both, then stretched seven cords of sheep’s gut to serve as harmonious strings.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, pp. 44-5

• Lusting for meat, he leaped down the peak from the fragrant hall. He was plotting an outright trick in his mind, of the sort that thieves carry out in the time of black night. As the Sun sank under the ground toward Ocean with horses and car, at Pieriea’s shadowy mountains Hermes in haste arrived, where deathless cattle were stabled, owned by the blessed gods, On meadows unspoiled and lovely taking of pasture their fill. The keen-eyed Slayer of Argos, the son whom Maia bore, cut off then fifty cattle, whose lowing was loud from the herd; turning aside their steps, he drove them by wandering paths through sandy ground, and did not forget his fraudulent craft, reversing their hooves, the fore-hooves behind, the hind-hooves in front, while walking backwards himself.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, pp.45-6

What are you up to subtle rogue, arriving here in the night from who knows where, parading your barefaced cheek? It is no my firm belief that with bonds about your ribs against which struggle is futile, bonds that nothing can llose, you will pass out through the porch in the grasp of Leto’s son, rather than that you will plunder and rob when you please in the glens.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, pp.48-9

Mother, why aim this abuse at me, as if I were an infant child who knows but a few naughty tricks in his mind, a timid babe, whose mother’s rebukes make him cower in fright? I shall enter whatever whatever craft is best, so keeping us both in clover for ever: the two of us will not endure staying here in this placed, the only immortals deprived of gifts and prayer, as you are bidding.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, p. 49

• Phoebus Apollo, to carry him, seized the child. But the mighty Slayer of Argos, while being raised up in his hands, took thought and sent out an omen, the brazen labouring man of his belly, a wicked messenger, after which quickly he sneezed. Apollo heard it and threw illustrious Hermes to earth, seated before him, though eager to speed on the way, aiming his taunts at Hermes, and to him spoke these words: ‘Take courage, swaddled infant, Zeus and Maia’s son. I shall then indeed discover where my strong cattle are, by means of these omens-and you, moreover, will lead the way.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, pp.53-4

Father Zeus, to you of course I’ll tell the truth, for I am honest, and don’t know how to tell a lie. In search of shambling cattle he came to our house today, just as the sun was rising, and brought no blessed gods as witnesses or observers. Many a threat he made that he would in broad Tartaros hurl me, since his is the tender bloom of youth that loves renown, while I was but yesterday born!

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, p.56

Loud was the laughter of Zeus when he saw the roguish child Denying about the cattle in fine and skilful speech. But he ordered them both to make search, at one with each other in mind, and instructed Conductor Hermes to lead the way and reveal-without any mischievous plots-where he had the strong cattle concealed. The son of Kronos nodded, and splendid Hermes obeyed, Persuaded with ease by the mind of aegis-bearing Zeus.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, p.57

• In turn, with downward nod, to mark their alliance and love, Apollo, Let’s son, Declared that amongst the immortals no other would be more dear, neither god nor man begotten by Zeus… amongst immortals and humans I’ll make a sign which I trust and honour at heart. But I’ll give you besides a beautiful rod of fortune and riches, golden and branching in three; unscathed it will keep you will bringing to pass all decrees of words and of deed that are good, all those that I claim to have learnt from the voice of Zeus. But prophecy, splendid fellow, about which you ask without end, it’s decreed that neither yourself nor another immortal may learn. For this is a matter known to the mind of Zeus, while I in pledge have nodded down and sworn a mighty oath that I alone of the gods who live for ever shall know the shrewd-minded counsel of Zeus.

Homeric Hymn to Hermes, p. 62

CADUCEUS = MESSENGERS ROD

Psychopompos - ‘Conductor of Souls’

Hermaphroditus

Salmacis

“You may fight cruel villain, but you will not escape. May the gods so ordain and may we never be separated in future time, you from me or me from you. The gods accepted her prayer. For their two bodies were joined together as they entwined, and in appearance they were made one, just as when one grafts branches on a tree and sees them unite in their growth and become mature together; thus, when their limbs united in their close embrace, they were no longer two but a single form that could not be called girl or boy and appeared at the same time neither one, but both.

Ovid, Metamorphoses: Martin, pp.134-9Melville pp.83-5

Posdeidon (Neptune)

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Concerning Poseidon, that mighty god, I begin to sing, who stirs the earth and murmuring sea, the lord of the deep, who over Helion rules and spacious Aigai too. In twain the gods divided, Shaker of Earth, your share of honour-to be the tamer of horses and saviour of ships. Farewell, Poseidon, Holder of Earth, whose hair is dark; Blessed One, kindly at heart, bring help to those who sail.

Homeric Hymn 22

Poseidon and Amphitrite

Nereids - Daugthers of Nereus