aight, i think it's time i finally do one of these.
-------intro post-------
- name's El, Elz or August!
- prns are she/her, mostly, but any pronouns'll do!
- i'm a Hellenic Polytheist (obviously), and an ex-Christian.
- alongside English, i speak Portuguese natively, specifically Brazilian Portuguese, i understand Spanish and a bit of French, and am doing Greek on the owl app!
- i worship Lady Athena, Lord Apollo and Lady Aphrodite mainly!
- i like EPIC The Musical, Formula One, music and Blood of Zeus!
- DNI list: basic DNI, anti-pagan or anti-Theoi, TERFS, racists, etc. just don't be a total arsehole and you'll be fine!
my other blogs:
main: @el-skywalker11
Athena shrine: @her-little-owl
Apollo shrine: @sunray-devotee
Aphrodite shrine: @her-little-dove
Hermes shrine: @hermes-winged-sandals
so that's everything you need to know about me, and may the Gods bless you! ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
The slogan is "Red Bull gives you wings."
The can says "Red Bull is appreciated worldwide by top ATHLETES, BUSY professionals, college students, and TRAVELERS ON LONG JOURNEYS"
It's caffeinated, making your heart beat like you're a hummingbird running a 5k
And the logo is CATTLE, which I recall SOMEONE being fond of enough to steal FIFTY of for shits and giggles as a baby.
I think I know what Hermes is doing these days.
I wanted to try and start a little series to provide information. It’ll include the greek gods as well as the saints. For the greek gods I want to try and do as many gods as I can before I get burnt out with this.
First I wanted to post about Lord Hermes. He’s been a part of my practice the longest and I feel the most connected to him. I really do hope that this post can be of use to anyone who needs. I certainly do hope that this post and this series can help me grow closer to my practice. So we will see!
𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜
Who is Hermes?
Epithets
Family Tree
Symbols & Associations
Offerings & Devotions
Festivals
Sources
Hermes is the Olympian god of herds and flocks, travelers and hospitality, roads and trade, thievery and cunning, heralds and diplomacy, language and writing, athletic contests and gymnasiums, astronomy, and astrology. He is the messenger of Zeus as well as a guide of the souls, aka a psychopomp.
Greeks depicted Hermes as either a handsome and athletic, beardless youth or as an older, bearded man, with winged boots and a herald's wand. However, Hermes can appear to you in any way that fits. For me personally, he doesn’t completely fit the typical description, although I guess it does fit the handsome, athletic, beardless youth depiction.
Pop Culture
You may have seen Hermes around in your daily life. The caduceus is often used as a symbol in the medical world. Although not because Hermes is tied to medicine in any way. The use of the caduceus is simply due to many mistaking it for the rod of Asclepius. What’s the difference? Hermes’s staff depicts two snakes while Asclepius’s rod only depicts one.
Hermes himself appears in various pieces of media. Stories like Disney’s Hercules or Percy Jackson. He also appears in the Supergiant Games’s Hades as a god that can help you in your journey, or as a boss in God of War III.
You may have also heard of the luxury brand Hermès, which doesn’t seem to be related to the god at all but it pops up when you search him so I’m adding it anyway. I don’t actually know if this is a good brand or not but they seem to keep sustainability in mind so there’s that at least.
There are many different epithets for Hermes. While there isn’t as many as other gods, there’s still a decent amount of epithets for him. What are epithets? Well, they are essentially surnames for the gods to describe their different aspects. If you wish to call upon a specific aspect of a god you would use their epithet when talking with them.
Now for the different epithets of Hermes. I will be including the transliteration version of the names as the Greek names use special characters that I am unsure if they’ll even show up. So we’re getting close enough.
𝙲𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜
A
Aipytos
Of Aepytus (hero Arcadia)
Agoraios
Of the Market-Place
Akakêsios
Of Acacesium (Arcadia)
D
Dolios
Of Crafts, Of Wiles
E
Enagônios
Of the Games
Epimêlios
Keeper of the Flocks
H
Hermêneutês
Interpreter, Translator
K
Kriophoros
Ram-Bearer
Kyllênios
Of Mt Cyllene (Arcadia)
P
Promakhos
Champion
Pronaos
Of the Fore-Temple
Propylaios
Of the Gateway
T
Trikephalos
Three-Headed (Of Road-Intersections)
𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚝𝚜
A
Akakêta
Guileless, Gracious
Aglaos
Splendid, Bright, Glorious
Angelos Athanatôn
Messenger of the Gods
Angelos Makarôn
Messenger of the Blessed
Athanatos Diaktoros
Immortal Guide
Argeiphontês
Slayer of Argos
Arkhos Phêlêteôn
Leader of Robbers, Thieves
B
Bouphonos
Slayer of Oxen
D
Dais Hetairos
Comrade of the Feast
Diaktoros
Guide, Messenger
Dôtor Eaôn
Giver of Good Things
E
Erikydês
Famous, Glorious, Splendid
Eriounês
Luck-Bringing, Ready-Helper
Euskopos
Keen-Sighted, Watchful
K
Kharidôtês
Giver of Joy
Kharmophrôn
Glad-Hearted, Heart-Delighting
Khrysorrhapis
Of the Golden Wand
Klepsiphrôn
Deceiver, Dissembler
Krateros
Strong, Mighty
Kratus
Strong, Mighty
Kydimos
Glorious
Kyllenios
Of Mt Cyllene
M
Maiados Huios
Son of Maia
Mastêrios
Of Searchers
Mêkhaniôtês
Trickster, Contriver
O
Oiopolos
Sheep-Tending, Shepherd
P
Phêlêtês
Thief, Robber, Rustler
Poikilomêtês
Full of Various Wiles
Polytropos
Wily, Many-Turning
Pompaios
The Guide
Poneomenos
Busy One
𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚜
FATHER ; Zeus - King of the Gods
MOTHER ; Maia - daughter of the Titanes Atlas and Pleione
𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜
Lady Artemis (half sister by Zeus)
Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Wild Animals & Wilderness, & Virginity
Lord Apollon (half brother by Zeus)
God of the Sun, Prophecy, Truth, Music & Poetry, Archery, Healing, & Light
Lord Ares (half brother by Zeus)
God of War
Lady Athena (half sister by Zeus)
Goddess of War, Wisdom, & Arts & Crafts
Lady Aphrodite (half sister by Zeus)
Goddess of Love, Beauty, Desire, & Fertility
Lord Hephaestus (half brother by Zeus)
God of Fire, the Forge, Metalworking & Sculpting, Craftsmen, & Technology
Lord Dionysus (half brother by Zeus)
God of Wine, Fertility, & Theatre
𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗
ANGELIA - goddess of messages Daughter of Hermes
ELEUSIS - goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries. daughter of Hermes and Daeira
HERMAPHRODITOS (Hermaphroditus) - The hermaphroditic daimon son of Hermes and Aphrodite.
OREIADES (Oreads) Depends on the myth ; Many of the Oreiades were said to be the daughters of Hermes and other Oreaides Nymphai.
PALAISTRA (Palaestra) - goddess of wrestling Daughter of Hermes
PAN - the goat-footed god of shepherds son of Hermes and the Nymphe Penelopeia.
PANES Agreus ; son of Hermes and Nymphe Sose ; Nomios ; son of Hermes and Nymphe Penelopeia
PRIAPOS (Priapus) - god of garden fertility depends on the myth ; son of Hermes (most sources say this god was the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite).
SATYROI (Satyrs) Pherespondos, Lykos and Pronomos ; sons of Hermes and the Nymphe Iphthime
𝙼𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝙲𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚗
ABDEROS (Abderus) - prince of Opous who was loved by Herakles. son of Hermes
AITHALIDES (Aethalides) - A lord of Phthiotis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts. son of Hermes and Eupolemeia.
ARABOS (Arabus) - The first king of Arabia son of Hermes and Thronia.
AUTOLYKOS (Autolycus) - A thievish prince of Phokis son of Hermes and Khione.
BOUNOS (Bunus) - A king of Korinthos son of Hermes and Alkidameia.
DAPHNIS - A bard of Sikelia who invented pastoral or bucolic poetry son of Hermes and a Sikelian Nymphe
EKHION (Echion) - A lord of Alope in Malis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts son of Hermes and Antianeira.
ELEUSIS - A king and eponym of the town of Eleusis son of Hermes and Daeira
EUANDROS (Evander) - founded the city of Pallantium son of Hermes and the Naiad Karmentis.
EUDOROS (Eudorus) - A lord of Phthiotis son of Hermes and Polymele.
EURESTOS (Eurestus) son of Hermes and Aptale.
EURYTOS (Eurytus) - A lord of Alope in Malis who joined the expedition of the Argonauts. son of Hermes and Antianeira.
KAIKOS (Caecus) - A lord of Teuthrania son of Hermes and the Naias Nymphe Okyrrhoe.
KEPHALOS (Cephalus) - A lord and hunter of Attika son of Hermes and Herse (aka Kreusa)
KERYX (Ceryx) - A lord of Attika, first Herald of the Eleusinian Mysteries. son of Hermes and Agraulos (or Thrakian King Eumolpos)
KYDON (Cydon) - A lord of Kydonia in Krete son of Hermes and the Kretan princess Akalle
LIBYS A king of Libya son of Hermes and the princess Libya
MYRTILOS (Myrtilus) - The herald and charioteer of King Oinomaos of Pisa son of Hermes and Theoboula
NORAX - A prince of Iberia son of Hermes and Erytheia
ORION - A giant who was born in answer to the prayers of the childless Boiotian King Hyrieus son to Hermes, Poseidon and Zeus
PHARIS - A lord who founded the city of Pharai son of Hermes and the Danaid Phylodameia
PHAUNOS (Phaunus) - A barbaric Italian king who sacrificed strangers to his father ; slain by Herakles. Son of Hermes
POLYBOS (Polybus) - A king of Sikyonia son of Hermes and Queen Khthonophyle
SAON - The first king of the island of Samothrake son of Hermes and the Nymphe Rhene (OR Zeus and a Nymphe).
𝚂𝚢𝚖𝚋𝚘𝚕𝚜
Caduceus
Hermai (Stones that marked roads and boundaries, often with the carved head of Hermes)
Lyre
Petasos (Travellers’ Cap)
𝙰𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚜
Tortoise
Ram
Hawk
Rooster
Snake
Hare
𝙵𝚕𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜, 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚋𝚜, 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚜, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚝
Crocus
Greek Strawberry-Tree
Palm Tree
Almond Tree
𝙲𝚛𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚜/𝚂𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚜
Amethyst
Hematite
Agate
Amber
Citrine
Peridot
Yellow topaz
Emerald
Red Marble
𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚜
Gold
Yellow
Orange
Silver
Grey
Green
Red
𝙴𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝
Air
𝙿𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚝
Mercury
𝙳𝚊𝚢
Wednesday
𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚘𝚝 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜
Can really be any card that you decide to use as an identifier between you and Lord Hermes. These are just some suggestions.
Judgement
The Magician
These are just suggestions! You can always find a different offering or devotional act based on your own personal associations and practice. And if you can’t provide any physical offerings, that’s okay. Devotional acts or digital offerings are just as good.
This list consists of UPG and SPG suggestions.
Offerings
Currency
Dice
Feathers
Travel Tickets
Souveniers
Imagry of his associations
Foods & Drinks
Foreign Foods
Red Wine
Olive Oil
Strawberries
Coffee/Energy drinks
Water
Honey
Lemons
Almonds
Cinnamon
Chocolate
Wheat
Devotional Acts
Travelling
Learn a new language
Play a sport
Learn Astrology
Practice public speaking
Do *harmless* pranks (Confuse, don’t abuse)
Write to him
Research
Donate to homeless shelters, to local sports teams, or relief charities
Workout
Make a devotional playlist and listen to it
Prayer to Hermes
I call to Hermes, son of thundering Zeus
and gracious Maia, fair of face and kind of heart;
father of Tyche, granter of serendipity.
In rugged Arcadia, land of your birth,
were you well known and praised by one and all; in all
the ancient world did you receive honors. Throughout
the land stood herms and mounded stones, at crossroads
and at boundaries, in all the far-flung provinces,
marking the path and holding your gift of fortune,
Far-journeying Hermes, guide of the traveler,
fleet-footed god of merchants, god of gamblers and thieves
and all who live by wit and wile and clever words,
master of discretion and finesse. Hermes,
protector of the home, provider of .feast and frolic,
courier of dreams, kind Hermes, I call to you.
Hermaea
The festival dedicated to Hermes celebrated in several parts of Greece. The boys were on this occasion dressed in their best, offered sacrifices to the god, and amused themselves with various games and sports.
Hermès — Hermes was the messenger of the gods and the god of trade. What a perfect name for a brand that specializes in leather apparel and lifestyle accessories. The brand is actually named after its founder, Thierry Hermès.
Greek mythology has been a treasure trove of names for marketers to associate with their brands — whether companies, products, or services.
Hermes: Messenger of the Gods, God of boundaries, roads, travelers, merchants, thieves, athletes, shepards, commerce, speed, cunning, language, oratory, and wit
Offerings include:
1. foreign foods
2. souvenirs/objects from trips
3. white or red wine
4. stuff you like from other cultures
5. silver objects
6. statues/depictions of him
7. honey
8. written stories, letters or messages
9. postcards
10. crystals/gemstones like amethyst, quartz, smokey quartz, orange topaz
11. olive oil
12. incense scents like frankincense, lavender or myrrh
13. maps
14. flowers like crocus, hydrangea or chrysanthemum
Swift Hermes, provider of fair fortune, who travels freely among the worlds.
In pennies found, in laughter and delight, in messages trifling and essential, in unexpected twists of our life's plan, with these you touch us, genial son of Zeus.
Hermes, guide of souls, light-hearted one, swift as thought; you know the depth of impulse, quick-witted god of those who live by luck.
We thank you for the path unworn, for cleverness, for gifts unearned, for change unbidden.
Excellent Hermes, we praise and honor you.
2. Keen-minded Hermes, light fingered one, light footed one, quick and cunning, bright and merry, ever watchful, ever agile, ever sharp of wit. The wings at your feet carry you to any landing-place, in any realm; wearing the cap of Aidoneus, you tarry, unseen by mortal men. Wielder of the golden sword, player on the shepherds pipe, god of herdsmen, god of thieves, god of cities and of pastures, rustic and urbane, you walk the line between contradictions. Hermes of the borderland, Hermes of the threshold, god of the uncertain, consistent and contrary, you stand in the doorway, you stand at the edge; the knife-sharp boundary between two worlds is yours.
Hermes, child of rich-tressed Maia and thundering Zeus, Ithank you for your many gifts, I praise your might.
3. Hermes of the ready wit and the lightning smile, Wing-footed one who carries the words of the gods,
Compassionate one who guides the newly-dead to the hall of Hades and fair Persephone, Quick-thinking one who takes interest in the world and works of mankind, whose hand we see in a run of luck and a clever scheme, I call to vou.
Hermes, bearer of the herald's staff, your gifts
are great.
You guard our homes with constancy and care,
You grant to us a portion of your own craft and wile,
You join with us when we revel and are merry, You stand with us when we are far from home, alone.
You are ever with us, O Hermes;
He who holds in hand the good of men, I honor you
4. Swift Hermes,
Provider of fair fortune.
He who guides travellers,
He who treasures wit and humor, I reach out to you.
Grant me peace,
Grant me protection, And I shall give you My devotion.
5. May Hermes bless you with safe travels, and protect you from theives.
Hermes is a god of travel, mercenaries, work, animal husbandry, trade, messengers, and athletes. Excluding the universal offerings, some common offerings include:
Citrus Fruits
Ramune
Candies
Souvenirs
Bird Feathers
Alcohol
Cheese
Coins and Money
Stamps
Foreign Foods or Candies
Foreign Drinks
For devotional acts, some activities that can be done for him include:
Write Stories
Write Letters (& Send Them)
Learning How to Make Drinks (Wine, Alcoholic Mixed Drinks, Juices, Etc.)
