Apollo and Hermes: best bros
For @lazyreddd and @greek-mythographer this is a bit of an overdue, but anyway, here are some of my favorite Apollo - Hermes moments from mythology:
First of all, the Homeric hymn to Hermes! aka where Apollo and Hermes become best friends! I'll put in my favorite lines from it, but you should really read it if you haven't already
[Apollo]: This I will declare to you exactly: by this shaft of cornel wood I will surely make you a leader renowned among the deathless gods, and fortunate, and will give you glorious gifts and will not deceive you from first to last.”
Then wise Zeus was glad and made them both friends. And Hermes loved the son of Leto continually, even as he does now, when he had given the lyre as token to the Far-shooter
But Apollo, son of Leto, swore to be fellow and friend to Hermes, vowing that he would love no other among the immortals, neither god nor man sprung from Zeus, better than Hermes: and the Father sent forth an eagle in confirmation
Apollo swear also: “Verily I will make you only to be an omen for the immortals and all alike, trusted and honored by my heart. Moreover, I will give you a splendid staff of riches and wealth
Thus the lord Apollo showed his kindness for the Son of Maia by all manner of friendship: and the Son of Cronos gave him grace besides.
Apollo showers him with gifts and honors, and it ends with them being friends and promising to love each other.
And it looks like they stayed close friends. Hermes participated in the Pythian games hosted by Apollo:
"Apollon organised funeral games in honour of Python [the Pythian Games of Delphoi]; Hermes contributed to it, like Aphrodite; she won and accepted as prize a zither."
- Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History (trans. Pearse)
And they both participated in the Olympic games
The record of victors include Apollo, who outran Hermes and beat Ares at boxing. It is for this reason, they say, that the Pythian flute-song is played while the competitors in the pentathlum are jumping
- Pausanias, Description of Greece (trans. Jones)
Hermes lost XD But I don't think it affected their friendship at all. They have a lot of interactions in various texts. For example, this little banter they have when Ares and Aphrodite get caught having an affair:
Thus they spoke to one another. But to Hermes the lord Apollo, son of Zeus, said: “Hermes, son of Zeus, messenger, giver of good things, wouldst thou in sooth be willing, even though ensnared with strong bonds, to lie on a couch by the side of golden Aphrodite?”
Then the messenger, Argeiphontes, answered him: “Would that this might befall, lord Apollo, thou archer god—that thrice as many bonds inextricable might clasp me about and ye gods, aye, and all the goddesses too might be looking on, but that I might sleep by the side of golden Aphrodite.”
Here is Hermes going around and showing off Apollo's son Aristaeus:
There shall she bear a son, whom glorious Hermes will take from his fond mother's breast, and carry to the enthroned Horai (Horae, Seasons) and Mother Gaia; and they will gently nurse the babe upon their knees
- Pindar, Pythian Ode 9 (trans. Conway)
And in one version, he even helped Apollo save Asclepius
She (Koronis) was killed by Artemis to punish her for the insult done to Apollon, but when the pyre was already lighted Hermes is said to have snatched the child from the flames.
- Pausanias, Description of Greece (trans. Jones)
they also once shared a lover named Chione (not the goddess) and she gave birth to twins, one Apollo's and one Hermes' (I'm ignoring Ovid bc he ruins everything)
Apollo and Mercurius [Hermes] are said to have slept the same night with Chione, or, as other poets say, with Philonis [an alternative name for Chione], daughter of Daedalion. By Apollo she bore Philammon, and by Mercurius [Hermes], Autolycus. Later on she spoke too haughtily against Diana [Artemis] in the hunt, and so was slain by her arrows. But the father Daedalion, because of his grief for his only daughter, was changed by Apollo into the bird daedalion, that is, the hawk."
- Pseudo - Hyginus, Fabulae (trans. Grant)
(this is a headcanon, I think Hermes and Apollo raised the kids together. It's not far fetched because they're both good dads, esp Apollo)
And These dialogues from Lucian's "Dialogues of the gods" are a treat. This one isn't avaliable on theoi.com (I found it after scrolling down a great deal on another website) so I'll save you the trouble
Just them gossiping, goofing around on Olympus ☺️
They share a few domains too, and their symbols are literally the gift they received from the other (lyre and caduceus). Need I say more? Apollo and Hermes are best of the best bros✨ I love them so much!
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