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Hermes Facts & Worksheets

Hermes is an Olympian god regarded as the gods' messenger in Greek mythology. He is also honored as the protector of human heralds, merchants, orators, and thieves.

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Hermes is an Olympian god regarded as the gods’ messenger in Greek mythology. He is also honored as the protector of human heralds, merchants, orators, and thieves. With the help of his winged sandals, he can travel between the worlds of the divine and the mortal quickly and freely.

See the fact file below for more information about the Greek god, Hermes, or you can download our 29-page Hermes worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

NAME AND ORIGIN

  • The Mycenaean Greek script is the oldest form of the name Hermes. The majority of scholars trace the word “Hermes” back to the Greek word ἕρμα (herma), meaning “stone heap.”
  • Although the origin of it is uncertain, it is most likely not a Proto-Indo-European term. Nevertheless, the stone etymology links to Indo-European *ser- (“to bind, put together”).
  • Academics conjecture that “Hermes” originates from a more archaic form, signifying “one cairn” is challenged.
  • Hermes was typically portrayed in classical and Hellenistic Greek art as a young, fit man without a beard. Moreover, Phidias bequeathed a statue of a well-known Hermes Logios and Praxiteles another, also holding a baby Dionysus in his arms.
  • Throughout history, from the Hellenistic and Roman eras to the present day in Western civilization, a few of his distinctive artifacts serve as markers, though invariably not all at once.
  • One such item is the caduceus, a staff with two intertwined snakes, occasionally topped with a sphere and two wings. In the past, the caduceus was associated with Hermes and was first recorded by the Babylonians circa 3500 BCE.
  • In addition, the Rod of Asclepius, bearing a single snake and is associated with the patron of medicine and Apollo’s son Asclepius, is a symbol that shares similarities but has a unique appearance. 
  • Most Western doctors wear the Rod of Asclepius as a badge of honor, though it is sometimes confused with the caduceus in contemporary times. Caduceus represents trade and was included in several heraldic crests after the Renaissance.
  • According to Frothingham, the god was a snake god from Mesopotamia, either the same or akin to Ningishzida, a god who acted as a go-between for people and the divine, particularly Ishtar, and who was portrayed as a caduceus in art.
  • Since his cult was founded in isolated areas of Greece, he was likely a god of the natural world, shepherds, and farmers. Alternatively, he may have been a shamanic deity associated with divination, magic, reconciliation, sacrifices, initiation, and contact with other planes of existence, serving between the visible and invisible realms.
  • Subsequently, the original name was replaced by the epithet, and Hermes assumed Pan’s role as a psychopomp (a deity who guides the souls of the deceased to the afterlife) and as the god of messengers, travelers, and boundaries. In later myths, Pan was identified as Hermes’ son following the reintroduction of the Pancult to Attica.

PICTOGRAPHIC

  • Greek art and culture changed and reshaped the image of Hermes over time. He was typically portrayed in Archaic Greece as an elderly, bearded man wearing clothing resembling that of a herald, shepherd, or traveler. 
  • Made of palm and myrtle branches, Hermes’ sandals were known as pédila by the Greeks and talaria by the Romans. They were praised for being exquisite, golden, immortal, capable of traveling at the speed of the wind, and beautiful. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • As a chthonic and fertility god- Hermes was once a god with a great affinity for the chthonic, or underworld. He is associated with the underworld because of his role as a god of boundaries, or the line separating life from death; however, he is also considered a psychopomp, a god who aids in guiding the souls of the dead into the afterlife led souls on the path connecting “the Under and the Upper world.” Over time, this role came to include limitations, travelers, sailors, businesses and roads, and travel in general.
  • As a chthonic deity, the worship of Hermes also included an aspect of fertility, with the phallus among his symbols.
  • Pottery associated with Hermes, in the form of hermae, placed at the entrances to houses, may reflect a belief in ancient times that Hermes was a symbol of the household’s fertility.
  • As a god of boundaries– Over time, this role came to include travelers, sailors, businesses and roads, and travel in general. Travelers added a stone to a pile of wayside marker stones bearing his name.
  • The cairns (piles of stones) that indicated the halfway point between each village at the central agora (public space) in Athens were replaced in the sixth century BCE by Hipparchus, the son of Pisistratus, with a square or rectangular stone or bronze pillar crested by a bust of a bearded Hermes.
  • For instance, the standing stone or wooden pillar in the earlier Mount Kyllini or Cyllenian herms was just a phallus that had been carved. Walter Burkert said, “That a monument of this kind could be transformed into an Olympian god is astounding.” Herms were put outside homes in Athens as a sign of male fertility, protection for the house, and a conduit between the household’s gods and the gods of the larger community. 
  • As a messenger of god– In association with his role as a psychopomp and god who can easily cross boundaries, Hermes was predominantly worshipped as a messenger, often described as the messenger of the gods.
  • As a shepherd god– Due to his early ancestry as a part of Pan, Hermes was revered as the patron god of flocks, herds, and shepherds. Hermes was revered in Boeotia after he carried a ram or calf around the city walls to protect the city from a plague. This was commemorated by an annual festival in which “the most handsome boy” would carry a lamb through the town before it was sacrificed, symbolizing the city’s protection against famine, disease, and drought.

MYTHOLOGY

  • Homer and Hesiod portrayed Hermes as a benefactor of mortals and the creator of cunning or skillful deeds. He is referred to in the Iliad as “the good luck bringer,” “the guide and guardian,” and “excellent in all the tricks.” He was the Greeks’ divine ally in their conflict with the Trojans. But when Priam went to the Greek camp to get his son Hector’s body and returned with them to Troy, he did shield him.
  • In the Odyssey, Hermes assists his great-grandson, the main character Odysseus, by telling him what happened to his friends, whom Circe’s power caused to turn into animals. 
  • Hermes advised Odysseus to take a magic herb and chew it to protect himself. He also informed Calypso of Zeus’s command to release Odysseus from her island so he could resume his journey home.
  • The term “polutropos” is also used to describe Odysseus in the first line of the Odyssey. The Homeric Hymn 4 to Hermes describes the god as one “of many shifts (polytropos), blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods.” Hermes was a patron of athletes because, in addition to inventing the chelys (lyre), he was credited with creating wrestling and many other racing disciplines.
  • Moreover,  he was portrayed by Aesop in a number of his fables as the god of athletes, edible roots, hospitality, and the gate of prophetic dreams. He added that everyone had received their fair share of intelligence from Hermes.
  • Hermes is Odysseus’ great-grandfather, based on the mythographer Apollodorus, who also claims that Autolycus, the Prince of Thieves, was the son of Hermes and Chione.

Hermes Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Greek god, Hermes across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Hermes. He is honored as the protector of human heralds, merchants, orators, and thieves. With the help of his winged sandals, he can travel between the worlds of the divine and the mortal quickly and freely.

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Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Hermes Facts
  2. HighLIGHT of Hermes
  3. More About Hermes
  4. Her(O)mes!
  5. Famous Lines
  6. The Most Handsome Boy
  7. #GodsofGreece
  8. #Storytelling
  9. TGIF: Think, Great, Idea & Form
  10. From the Roots
  11. My Greek God

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Hermes in Greek mythology?

Hermes is the Greek god of transitions and boundaries, known as the messenger of the gods. He is also associated with travelers, thieves, athletes, and shepherds. Hermes is depicted as a youthful and athletic figure, often wearing winged sandals and a winged hat, carrying a caduceus, a herald’s staff entwined with snakes.

What are some notable attributes or symbols associated with Hermes?

Hermes is commonly depicted with winged sandals, symbolizing his speed and agility, and a winged hat called a petasos. The caduceus, a herald’s staff entwined with snakes, is another significant symbol associated with Hermes, representing commerce, negotiation, and the crossing of boundaries. Additionally, he is often depicted with a traveler’s cloak and a satchel or pouch.

What roles or responsibilities does Hermes have in Greek mythology?

Hermes serves as the messenger of the gods, delivering messages between the divine realm and the mortal world. He is also the guide of souls to the underworld and a protector of travelers, particularly those journeying on roads and crossing boundaries. Additionally, Hermes is considered the patron god of commerce, trade, and thieves.

Are there any notable myths or stories involving Hermes?

One famous myth involving Hermes is his theft of Apollo’s cattle shortly after his birth. Hermes cleverly disguised his theft by making the cattle walk backward, leaving no tracks. When Apollo discovered the theft and confronted Hermes, the two gods eventually reconciled, and Hermes gifted Apollo the lyre he had invented.

How is Hermes honored or worshipped in ancient Greece?

In ancient Greece, Hermes was worshipped through various rituals and festivals, including the Hermaea, which celebrated his role as a protector of boundaries and travelers. Sacrifices and offerings were made to Hermes at crossroads, as these were seen as liminal spaces where his presence was especially potent. Additionally, he was often invoked by travelers seeking his protection on their journeys.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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