Hermes, << HUR meez, >> was a god of fertility in Greek mythology. He was especially concerned with the sheep and goats raised by his principal worshipers, the people of the Arcadia region in southern Greece. In ancient Greek poetry, Hermes functioned as a messenger of the gods. Hermes was also a guide for souls to the underworld and for travelers. In addition, he was a protector of boundaries; a helper of heralds, speakers, traders, and thieves; and a bringer of good or unexpected luck. The Romans may have invented Mercury as an equivalent to Hermes (see Mercury).
Hermes was a son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Maia, a minor goddess. His only important myth tells how, on the day of his birth, he invented fire and the lyre and stole the cattle of the god Apollo.
In art, Hermes was usually shown as a beardless youth wearing a broad-brimmed traveling hat and sandals, which were usually winged. He carried the caduceus, a winged staff entwined with snakes. The Greeks considered snakes symbols of fertility.
