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Is Hermes Bell’s Uncle?
There has been some confusion and speculation among fans of the popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series by Rick Riordan regarding the familial relationships of certain characters, including Hermes, the messenger god, and Bell, a satyr who serves as one of Percy’s friends and protectors. Some readers have wondered if Hermes is Bell’s uncle, based on hints in the books and myths. Let’s examine the evidence and try to answer this question.
The Mythological Background
In Greek mythology, Hermes was one of the 12 Olympian gods who ruled over various aspects of life and nature. He was usually depicted as a young man with winged sandals and hat, carrying a caduceus or herald staff that could charm or heal humans and animals.
As the son of Zeus (the king of gods) and Maia (a nymph), Hermes had many roles and powers, such as being the patron of travelers, merchants, thieves, athletes, inventors, and even liars. He was also known for his cunningness, wit, humor, and mischief.
One important story that relates to Hermes’ potential connection to Bell is his involvement in the birth of Dionysus (the god of wine), who was born from Zeus’ affair with Semele (a mortal woman). Hera (Zeus’ wife) tried to kill Dionysus before he was born by tricking Semele into asking Zeus to reveal his true form (which would kill any mortal who saw it). However, Zeus saved Dionysus by sewing him into his thigh until he was fully formed.
After Dionysus was born again from Zeus’ body part, he was given to Hermes to protect him from Hera’s wrath. Hermes took Dionysus to various places around Greece and taught him many skills, such as music, dance, and theater. Eventually, Dionysus became a popular and powerful god who embodied the pleasures and dangers of wine.
The Literary Clues
In the Percy Jackson series, Hermes appears as a recurring character who helps Percy and his friends on several occasions. He is depicted as a busy and sophisticated god who runs a mail-order business for demigods (half-human, half-god beings like Percy), delivers messages to other gods or mortals, and collects lost items that have magical or sentimental value.
Hermes is also the father of Luke Castellan, one of Percy’s foes who betrayed his friends to serve Kronos (the Titan lord). Luke dies in battle against Kronos but redeems himself by saving Olympus (the home of the gods) from destruction.
Nowhere in the books does it explicitly state that Hermes is Bell’s uncle. However, there are some hints that suggest a possible connection between them:
- In The Sea of Monsters (the second book in the series), Bell reveals that he once helped Hermes retrieve his stolen caduceus from a cyclops named Polyphemus. This mission was crucial for Percy and his friends to obtain the Golden Fleece, which they needed to heal Thalia’s tree (a magical barrier that protects Camp Half-Blood from monsters). The fact that Hermes trusted Bell with such an important task implies that they have some level of trust or respect for each other.
- In The Battle of the Labyrinth (the fourth book in the series), Bell briefly mentions that he has some “weird family connections” but does not elaborate on them.
This vague statement could be interpreted as a nod to his possible relationship with Hermes or other Olympian gods.
- In The Last Olympian (the fifth book in the series), after Luke dies, Hermes expresses his grief and regret for not being able to save his son. He also tells Percy that he wishes he had been a better father to Luke and that he hopes to make amends by helping demigods like Percy who remind him of his own mistakes. This emotional scene shows a different side of Hermes than the one portrayed earlier in the series, and it suggests that he has a more complex and caring personality than some readers might have assumed.
The Author’s Comments
In an interview with Hypable, Rick Riordan was asked if Bell was related to Hermes in any way. He answered:
“That remains to be seen. There are hints throughout the series that Bell has some family connections.
I’ll just leave it at that. “
This response neither confirms nor denies the theory that Hermes is Bell’s uncle, but it does suggest that Riordan intentionally included some clues for readers to ponder. It’s possible that Riordan may reveal more about this topic in future books or spinoffs.
Conclusion
So, is Hermes Bell’s uncle? The answer is unclear and subject to interpretation.
While there are some literary and mythological clues that suggest a possible connection between them, there is no definitive proof or statement from the author about their relationship. Therefore, readers can speculate or imagine their own versions of this theory based on their reading experience and imagination.
Regardless of whether Hermes is Bell’s uncle or not, both characters have their own unique traits and contributions to the Percy Jackson universe. By using elements such as bold text, underlined text, lists, and subheaders throughout this article about their potential relationship, we’ve helped showcase these characters in an engaging way while also informing readers on an interesting topic.