Hermes - Ἑρμῆς
The herald and messenger of the Olympian gods. With his steadfast pédila winged sandals he delivers messages to and from the gods, as well as performs his duties as a psychopomp for the dead. He is a trickster god, patron of thieves and merchants, but he is also god of the arts and inventing, said to have invented wrestling, racing, and the lyre out of a tortoise shell. He is a god of mortal tasks overall and in his tales he uses his cunning and deception to either aid or harm others. Hermes wields in his hand the caduceus, a serpent-entwined wand that represents commerce and was said to be able to bring peace, negotiate relations, and put people to sleep, as Hermes was also bringer of dreams to some. Hermes also protected all travelers and roads were marked with boundary stones and/or herma, block statues representing the divine phallus.
Pantheon: Greek
Domain or Function: Messenger of the gods, psychopomp of the dead, god of trade and commerce, inventor of wrestling and sports, and protector of travelers and thieves.
Alternate Names: Has an extensive list of epithets.
Character Traits: He is sly and intelligent, both brains and brawn. His stories show how deceptive and inventive he is among the Olympian gods.
Visual Traits: Usually shown as a youth or bearded man with a winged cap and winged sandals, carrying the caduceus.
Symbolism: Caduceus, winged cap (petasos), winged sandals, palm tree, rooster, ram, tortoise, lyre.
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