Hermes, the messenger of the gods, the son of the god Zeus and of Maia, the daughter of the Titan Atlas. As the special servant and courier of Zeus, Hermes has winged sandals and a winged hat and bears a golden Caduceus, or magic wand, entwined with snakes and surmounted by wings. He conducts the souls of the dead to the underworld and possesses magical powers over sleep and dreams. Hermes is als
o the god of commerce, and the protector of traders and herds. As the deity of athletes, he protects gymnasiums and stadiums and is responsible for both good luck and wealth. Despite his virtuous characteristics, Hermes can be also a dangerous foe, a trickster, and a thief to his enemies and those of his loyal worshipers. On the day of his birth he stole the cattle of his brother, the sun god Apollo, obscuring their trail by making the herd walk backward. When confronted by Apollo, Hermes denied the theft. The brothers were finally reconciled when Hermes gave Apollo his newly invented lyre. Hermes was represented in early Greek art as a mature, bearded man; in classical art he became an athletic youth, n**e and beardless.
