The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was responsible for more than just delivering messages. They believed that he also carried the souls of the dead to their final resting place.
According to Greek mythology, when a person died, their soul would leave their body and journey to the underworld. Hermes would then guide the soul to its final destination. This belief was so strong that Hermes became known as a psychopomp, which means “soul guide” in Greek.
Hermes was not alone in his duties as a psychopomp. Other deities such as Hecate and Charon were also believed to guide souls to the underworld. However, Hermes was considered to be the most important of them all because he was also responsible for delivering messages between humans and gods.
In art and literature, Hermes is often depicted carrying a caduceus, which is a staff with two snakes wrapped around it. This symbolizes his role as both a messenger and a psychopomp. He is also sometimes depicted wearing winged sandals and a winged hat, which allowed him to travel quickly between the realms of the living and the dead.
While many modern religions have different beliefs about what happens to the soul after death, the idea of a psychopomp is still prevalent in some cultures. For example, in Egyptian mythology, Anubis was responsible for guiding souls through the afterlife.
In conclusion, according to Greek mythology, Hermes did indeed carry souls as part of his duties as a psychopomp. This belief played an important role in ancient Greek culture and continues to be an intriguing topic for scholars and enthusiasts alike.