Is Hermes Good at Music?

When it comes to music, Hermes is not typically the first name that comes to mind. The Greek god of commerce and thieves is more commonly associated with his winged sandals and messenger duties than with any musical prowess. However, as with many things in Greek mythology, there are a few stories that suggest Hermes may have had some musical talent.

One of the most famous stories involving Hermes and music is the myth of Apollo and Marsyas. According to this tale, Apollo and Marsyas entered into a musical contest, with Apollo playing the lyre and Marsyas playing the double-piped aulos.

Despite his best efforts, Marsyas was ultimately defeated by Apollo, who then punished him by flaying him alive. While Hermes does not play a direct role in this story, he is often depicted as being present during the contest, suggesting that he may have been involved in some way.

In addition to this story, there are also a few other references to Hermes and music throughout Greek mythology. For example, he is sometimes depicted holding a kithara (a type of lyre) or a syrinx (a type of pan flute). He is also said to have invented the shepherd’s pipe (or “aulos”), which was an important instrument in ancient Greece.

Despite these references to his involvement in music, however, it’s unclear exactly how skilled Hermes was as a musician. Some sources suggest that he was quite talented – for example, the Roman poet Ovid writes that “Hermes could play upon any instrument he chose”. Others are less complimentary – for example, the poet Hesiod describes him as being “deceitful” and “crafty”, which doesn’t exactly sound like high praise.

Ultimately, whether or not Hermes was good at music is something of a mystery. While there are certainly stories that suggest he had some level of skill or involvement in musical contests, we don’t have any concrete evidence of his abilities. Nonetheless, his association with various musical instruments and contests suggests that music was at least a part of his mythology, even if it wasn’t his primary focus.