Description

I wanted each of the gods' temples to exist as a manifestation of their domains. Hermes' temple, as the god of merchants and travelers, came to me most easily: a grand, luxurious hotel that hosts travelers of all kinds, mortal and divine (though these two groups rarely mix).

As such, many amenities are provided to ensure that every guest has a quality experience at Hermaeum. This includes: two fine-dining restaurants (one for mortals, and one for the divine), gyms, a pool, a spa, a theater room, a bar, room service, and more!

Hermaeum is located in Manhattan, between the Empire State Building and Central Park. It has at least 40 stories, and the higher the floor, the more divine the guests who are staying. Hermaeum acts as a place where America's wealthiest mortals make business deals and Olympus' gods exchange favors. I've been mapping out some important locations, so here's a tentative frame of reference (subject to change!):

In the series, the Hermes Cabin served as Percy's first home before he was claimed. I wanted that to translate to this AU as well. Percy takes refuge in Hermaeum after either defeating or fleeing from the Minotaur. Demigods are protected inside of temples because they act as sacred grounds that ward off evil (monsters). Think of it as an alternate version of Camp Half-Blood's magical borders. It is at Hermaeum that Percy learns more about his godly parentage, the upcoming Summer Solstice, and the rising tensions between the gods.

Percy learns from hotelier Luke Castellan, his tour guide and mentor, that the demigod children of Hermes (along with a few satyrs (Grover!) and other divine spirits) are responsible for keeping the hotel running. The doorman, the person operating the front desk, the wait staff, and the room servicemen are the children of Hermes, running everything behind the scenes in exchange for safety and housing.

As Percy adjusts to the Hermaeum, the Summer Solstice approaches. Another thing worth noting: above all else, Hermaeum is a place of neutrality. Hermes is the god of traverlers and theives; he is the god of boundaries. He does not take sides. Hermaeum has a reputation of being a safe place to make negotiations and meet with people who aren't quite your friends. Every Winter and Summer Solstice, the demigod children of the Olympians come to Hermaeum to discuss and negotiate and exchange information just as their parents are doing on Olympus.

As the Olympian temples of NYC start to gather in Hermaeum, this is where and when Percy meets Annabeth Chase and a number of other characters that will play a critical role in the future.

Etymology

Herm (n.) In ancient Athens, "square pillar of stone topped by a carved human head" (conventionally that of Hermes), used as a milestone, boundary marker, etc., 1570s, from Latin herma, from Hermes (q.v.).

"So the divisions," [Percy] asked, "the cohorts, whatever---you're divided according to who your godly parent is?

Hazel stared at him. "What a horrible idea! No, the officers decide where to assign recruits. If we were divided according to god, the cohorts would be all uneven. I'd be all alone." (The Son of Neptune, Chapter IV)

Percy, though amnesic at this point in SoN, is building his idea of Camp Jupiter off of his memories of Camp Half-Blood, where they divide demigods based on their godly parentage. Ancient Greece itself was not an imperialistic entity like Rome, but rather a collection of independent city-states that waged their own wars and forged their own alliances. It is not a culture of unity, but division.

How interesting would it be to explore a world where this division is emphasized? A world where Camp Half-Blood does not exist as a uniting force for the children of Olympus. A world that reflects the individualistic culture of Ancient Greece.

As the gods found a place for themselves in budding America, they erected temples across NYC and the east coast. These temples have multiple purposes: a place for rituals or offerings, but also as a place for the gods' children to rest and find safety from the monsters that hunt them endlessly. Of course, the gods' motives in this are not entirely selfless. Demigods themselves provide a source of power to their godly parent, but they also serve as a way to spread influence and manipulate the mortal realm in a way that is personally outlawed to them.

Eventually, though, the hatred of being used as a pawn outweighs the loyalty a demigod may feel to their godly parent. And when the Titan King begins to whispers the promise of change in your ear, it's inevitable that some stop to listen.

Related Works

Hermaeum: The Temple of Hermes