In Greek mythology, Hermes was the god of commerce, thieves, and travelers, among other things. He was known for his cunning and quick wit. One of the most famous stories about Hermes involves his tricking of Apollo, the god of music, poetry, and prophecy.
The story goes that Apollo had just acquired a herd of cattle and was very proud of them. He boasted to Hermes that they were the most beautiful cattle in the world. Hermes, however, didn’t believe him.
One day when Apollo was away from his herd, Hermes decided to steal some of the cows. He took them away to a nearby cave and hid them there. Then he went back to Apollo and denied any knowledge of the missing cows.
Apollo was furious when he discovered that some of his cows were missing. He searched everywhere for them but couldn’t find them.
Finally, he came across Hermes who was playing a lyre (a stringed instrument). Apollo accused him of stealing his cows but Hermes denied it.
Apollo didn’t believe him so he took him to Zeus (the king of the gods) to settle the matter. Zeus listened to both sides but couldn’t decide who was telling the truth. So he ordered Hermes to return the cows to Apollo if he had indeed stolen them.
Hermes agreed but then came up with a clever plan. He put on a pair of shoes made from branches which left no footprints on the ground. Then he went back to where he had hidden the cows and led them away without leaving any trace.
When Apollo saw that all his cows were back in their pasture, he praised Zeus for being just and fair. But then Hermes showed up wearing his branch shoes and holding a lyre similar to Apollo’s own instrument.
Hermes began playing music on his lyre which was so beautiful that it enchanted Apollo completely. While he was distracted by the music, Hermes slipped away with some more of Apollo’s cows. This time, however, Apollo didn’t notice until it was too late.
In the end, Hermes had managed to trick Apollo twice and had gotten away with stealing some of his cows. The story shows how Hermes used his cunning and quick thinking to outsmart Apollo, who was known for his intelligence and wisdom.
In conclusion, the story of how Hermes tricked Apollo is a classic tale of wit and deception in Greek mythology. It showcases the cleverness of Hermes and the vulnerability of even the most powerful gods. It also serves as a warning against boasting too much about one’s possessions.