Have you ever wondered what the Greek god Hermes did on the first day of his life? According to Greek mythology, Hermes was born to Zeus and Maia, a nymph of the Arcadian forests. Let’s dive deep into what happened on the first day of his life.
The Birth of Hermes
On the first day of his life, Hermes was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. He was born at dawn and by midday, he had already become an adult. This is because he was a god and had inherited divine powers from his father Zeus.
Hermes’ Mischief
Hermes was mischievous from the very beginning. On the first day of his life, he left the cave where he was born and wandered off to explore the world around him.
He came across a tortoise and decided to kill it. With its shell, he invented the lyre which became one of his most famous attributes.
Hermes’ Feat
After inventing the lyre, Hermes went back to his cave and fell asleep. However, when he woke up, he felt hungry and decided to steal some cows from Apollo’s herd.
He managed to do so by making their hooves face backward so that they left no trace behind them. He then hid them in a nearby cave.
Apollo’s Anger
When Apollo discovered that his cows were missing, he searched for them tirelessly but could not find them. Finally, he came across Hermes who was playing with his lyre near the cave where he had hidden Apollo’s cows. Apollo demanded that Hermes return his cows but Hermes refused.
The Resolution
Zeus intervened between Apollo and Hermes and asked Hermes to return Apollo’s cows in exchange for forgiveness. Hermes agreed but not before teaching Apollo how to play the lyre. Apollo was so impressed with Hermes’ musical skills that he gave him the golden staff which became another one of his attributes.
Conclusion
On the first day of his life, Hermes invented the lyre and stole Apollo’s cows, but with Zeus’ intervention, he managed to make peace with Apollo and even taught him a thing or two about music. This story shows us that even gods can be mischievous but ultimately find a way to resolve their differences.