What Instrument Did Hermes Play?

Hermes, the Greek god of commerce, travel, and thievery, was known for his many talents. He was a messenger of the gods and a patron of travelers, but did you know that he was also a musician? Yes, Hermes played an instrument that was unique to him and had a special significance in Greek mythology.

So what instrument did Hermes play? According to ancient texts and depictions in art, Hermes played the lyre.

The lyre is a stringed musical instrument that looks like a small harp. It has two arms connected by a crossbar and strings that are plucked with the fingers.

The lyre was not an ordinary instrument in ancient Greece. It had mystical properties and was associated with poetry, song, and prophecy. In fact, one of the most famous myths about Hermes involves his invention of the first lyre.

Legend has it that when Hermes was just a baby, he found a turtle shell lying on the ground. He decided to make an instrument out of it by stretching cow intestines across it to form strings. When he played this makeshift lyre for the first time, it produced such beautiful music that it enchanted all who heard it.

From then on, Hermes became known as the god of music as well as many other things. He often carried his lyre with him on his travels and used it to entertain himself and others. In fact, he is said to have used his music to charm Argus Panoptes, a giant with 100 eyes who was guarding Io – one of Zeus’s lovers whom Hera had turned into a cow – into falling asleep so that he could rescue her.

The lyre continued to be associated with Hermes even after his death. In some depictions of him in art, he is shown holding or playing the instrument. The sound of the lyre symbolized both beauty and deception in Greek mythology – qualities that were fitting for the god of commerce and thievery.

In conclusion, Hermes played the lyre – a stringed instrument that he invented as a baby. This instrument had special significance in Greek mythology and was associated with music, poetry, and prophecy. The lyre was an important part of Hermes’s identity as a god, and it continues to be remembered as such in art and literature.