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Hermes was the the son of Zeus and Maia, god of commerce, the patron
of liars, gamblers and thieves and protector of travelers. He is usually
depicted as a slender, young, beardless god wearing a pot shaped hat, winged
sandals and carrying a herald staff. Before he was half a day old he had
stolen a herd of cattle that belonged to Apollo, but the angry sun god
confronted Hermes, the infant easily appeased him by teaching him to play
the lyre, which he had found the time to invent before he was two days
old. He was taken to Olympus where he endeared himself to Zeus and was
appointed Herald God and put in charge of leading the dead to Hades. Hermes
then went on to invent dice, astronomy, the first system of weights and
measures and to teach the gods the use of the fire stick. He was the wittiest
of the gods and very fun to have around; Zeus often used Hermes on confidential
errands, and always chose him to accompany him when he went down to earth
and disguised himself as a mortal.
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