Hermes, the Greek god of commerce, fertility, and trickery, is one of the most well-known gods in Greek mythology. He is often depicted as a youthful and athletic figure with winged sandals and a caduceus staff. But have you ever wondered if Hermes had a family?
According to Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia. Zeus was known for his numerous affairs with mortal and immortal women, and Maia was one of them.
Maia was a nymph who lived in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. She gave birth to Hermes in secret and raised him in the cave.
Hermes had several siblings from both his mother’s side and his father’s side. On his mother’s side, he had five sisters known as the Pleiades: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Maia (not to be confused with his mother), Merope, Sterope or Steropea (depending on the source). They were nymphs who were associated with astronomy.
On his father’s side, Hermes had numerous half-siblings as Zeus was known for having affairs with many women. Some of his notable half-siblings include Apollo (the god of music and prophecy), Athena (the goddess of wisdom), Ares (the god of war), Artemis (the goddess of hunting), Dionysus (the god of wine), Hercules (a famous hero), Helen of Troy (a famous mortal woman), Persephone (the queen of the underworld), Perseus (another hero), and many more.
In addition to his siblings, Hermes also had several children according to Greek mythology. However, their mothers vary depending on the source.
Some sources claim that he had two sons named Abderus and Chrysippus with an unknown mortal woman. Other sources claim that he had a son named Pan with a nymph named Dryope. Pan was the god of shepherds and flocks and was known for his mischievous behavior.
In conclusion, Hermes had a family in Greek mythology. He was the son of Zeus and Maia and had several siblings from both his mother’s side and his father’s side.
He also had several children with different partners throughout his life. If you’re interested in learning more about Greek mythology, there are many resources available online or at your local library.