Hermes is one of the most popular Greek gods, known for his messenger and trickster roles in mythology. As with any god, it’s natural to wonder about their family and relationships. One common question that often comes up is whether Hermes had any siblings.
According to Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, a nymph. However, he wasn’t an only child! In fact, Hermes had several siblings, both through his mother and father.
Hermes’ mother Maia was one of the Pleiades, a group of seven sisters who were daughters of Atlas and Pleione. Maia herself was the daughter of Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione. Therefore, Hermes had six aunties: Alcyone, Asterope, Celaeno, Electra, Merope, and Taygete.
On his father’s side, Hermes had many half-siblings as Zeus was known for his numerous affairs with other goddesses and mortal women. Some notable half-siblings include Apollo (god of music), Artemis (goddess of hunting), Athena (goddess of wisdom), Helen of Troy (whose beauty caused the Trojan War), Persephone (queen of the underworld), Dionysus (god of wine), Hercules (a famous hero), and many others.
It’s interesting to note that despite having so many siblings from both sides of his family tree, Hermes doesn’t seem to have a particularly close relationship with any of them in mythology. Instead, he is mostly depicted as a solitary figure who enjoys playing tricks on other gods and mortals alike.
In conclusion, yes – Hermes did have siblings! He had six aunties on his mother’s side and numerous half-siblings on his father’s side. While he may not have been particularly close to any of them in mythology, it’s still interesting to consider all the different family connections that exist within Greek mythology.