Hermes: Greek God, Trickster and Messenger to the Gods

Hermes was the Ancient Greek god of trade, wealth, luck, fertility, animal husbandry, sleep, language, thieves, and travel. He is known as the trickster of the Greek pantheon, and most recognisable is his position as the Messenger to the Gods… well, mostly the messenger for Zeus. Along with being very clever and mischievous, Hermes is credited with the invention of the lyre although he is not the god associated with music!

Hermes was a trickster since his first day of life when he stole Apollo's sacred cows, and then sacrificed two of them to the gods! As the herald of the gods, Hermes became associated with crossing boundaries with his movements between the realm of the gods and the world of mortals. The Caduceus, a staff with two serpents twisted around it, is a symbol of Hermes and his association with the crossing of boundaries and the transitions from this life to the afterlife.

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— CHAPTERS —
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Who is Hermes?
4:04 Myths of Hermes
7:19 Worship of Hermes
7:43 Hermes in statues
8:51 Outro

— ATTRIBUTIONS —

The music used in this recording is the intellectual copyright of Michael Levy, a prolific composer for the recreated lyres of antiquity, and used with the creator's permission. Michael Levy's music is available to stream at all the major digital music platforms. Find out more on:

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Mark Cartwright
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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World History Encyclopedia

#hermes #greekgodhermes #hermesgreekmythology

[WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Can you think of any figure in your own culture’s folklore or religion who serves this same purpose of transformation? What trickster gods appear in your culture’s stories? Let us know!

[chrys.k.mwarriorsofpiathos]

Hermes is one of my 4 deities of worship. ❤

[archanglemercuri]

a pleasure to watch, thank you for posting this 🔻🔺, ♾️, 🧬

[craigminchin]

Loved this! Greek mythology lends itself to great storytelling abilities and you folks have it nailed!

[Lucaslfm]

Greek mythology is just so interesting

[JovemEverton]

Hermes has a lot of similarities with Exu, one of the Orixás in african-brazilian religions like Umbanda and Candomblé. They are both tricksters, messengers and travellers. Exu is the only Orixá (as far as I know) who can travel between realms. He is the one who takes the offerings made by people to the other Orixás. Every "trade" with the Orixás must be done with Exu as an intermediate. Likewise Exu is related to travelling and pathways. Just like Hermes, the crossroads is commonly associated with him. Exu is also often depicted with phallus or rods.
Amazing that two different and distant cultures can produce such similar stories.

[harveywabbit]

It was Hermes and Zeus, dressed as beggars, who visited Lot and his wife at Sodom. Zeus became angry at the lack of hospitality and brought on a great flood which destroyed Sodom. The only survivors were Lot and his wife (Virgo). Upon dying, they were turned into an oak tree and Linden tree.

[Tekmirion]

Congruts Kelly and WHE, very nice and informative video

[xeno]

Hermes also represents/supports those who work in the transmutation of multi dimensional energies and kundalini integration.

[carstenlarsen]

Very good very interesting video
Thank you
The god of mischief here in denmark Would have been Loke
Or Loki in english

[AM-zbdl]

Great initiative, many thanks for your hard work and this excellent video!

[efowble]

Very interesting for sure. Didn’t know all that about him. And it seems like today’s guitar is the evolution of the Lyre and is the most interesting instrument 🎸

[dannymckenzie]

Fun fact, maya, hermes mother, is a titan, making him a half breed, part primordial, part god. As his father is zeus.
Furthermore, i believe his attatchment to or interest in humanity, is part of his half breed aspect. As humans a creation of the titan prometheus, whom he shares lineage via his mother. Perhaps what makes zeus the king of gods is his intermarriage with titans, mortals, and gods, all at once.

[yuckygav]

just wondering what significance Hermes Trismegistus has to the tale of hermes

[olatunjibanwo]

He's like esu the Yoruba deity in Nigeria a trickster deity and messangers of the orishas and God

[rommemory]

3:40 can someone respond to this concept in relation to censorship... then idk write your thesis on it then send it to me for review.

[robertheun]

Zeus was Barnabas, and Hermes was Paul, both used the power of god for salvation known as the gospel

[LMan]

Hermes is my ruling god. I’m a Virgo and my ruling planet is Mercury 💪

[manuscriptsdontburn]

You forgot to mention his role as psychopompos.

[WrdTy]

I was born a theif and still am. Maybe thats Hermes reaching out to me.