Is Hermes Athena’s Brother?

Is Hermes Athena’s Brother?

There is a common misconception among Greek mythology enthusiasts that Hermes is the brother of Athena. However, this assumption is not entirely accurate.

The Family Tree of Greek Gods

Before we delve into the relationship between Athena and Hermes, let us first take a look at the family tree of Greek gods. According to the ancient Greeks, Zeus was the king of all gods and was married to Hera. Together, they had several children including Ares, Hebe, Eileithyia, and Hephaestus.

Another prominent figure in Greek mythology was Metis – a titaness known for her wisdom. It was prophesied that her child would be more powerful than Zeus himself. To prevent this from happening, Zeus swallowed Metis while she was pregnant with Athena.

After some time had passed, Zeus began experiencing severe headaches. To relieve himself of the pain, he asked Hephaestus to split his head open with an axe. Out popped Athena fully grown and armored.

The Relationship Between Athena and Hermes

Athena and Hermes are both considered Olympian gods in Greek mythology. However, they are not siblings but rather distant cousins.

Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia – one of the seven Pleiades and daughter of Atlas. This made him a half-brother to Apollo and Artemis.

Athena on the other hand had no siblings as she was born fully grown from Zeus’ head after he swallowed Metis.

The Role of Athena and Hermes in Greek Mythology

Athena was known as the goddess of wisdom, war strategy, crafts, and weaving among other things. She was a virgin goddess and was often depicted wearing armor and carrying a shield.

Hermes, on the other hand, was considered the god of commerce, thieves, travelers, and messenger of the gods. He was often depicted wearing a winged hat and sandals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Hermes is not Athena’s brother but rather her distant cousin. While they both played prominent roles in Greek mythology, they had different areas of expertise and were known for different things.

  • Key Takeaways:
    • Hermes is not Athena’s brother but rather her distant cousin.
    • Athena had no siblings as she was born fully grown from Zeus’ head after he swallowed Metis.
    • Athena was known as the goddess of wisdom, war strategy, crafts, and weaving among other things while Hermes was considered the god of commerce, thieves, travelers, and messenger of the gods.