What Did Hermes Do With Apollo’s Cattle?

In Greek mythology, Hermes was known as the messenger of the gods and the god of commerce, thieves, and travelers. In one of his famous tales, he stole Apollo’s cattle shortly after he was born. This incident is known as the “Theft of Apollo’s Cattle” and has been a topic of interest among scholars and enthusiasts for centuries.

According to the legend, Hermes was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. On the very first day of his life, he left his cradle and set out to explore his surroundings. During his travels, he came across a herd of cattle belonging to none other than Apollo himself.

Hermes was fascinated by the cattle and decided to steal them. To hide his tracks, he put shoes on the cows’ feet that would leave no imprints behind. He then led them away from their grazing spot and hid them in a nearby grotto.

When Apollo discovered that his cattle were missing, he searched high and low for them but could not find any trace. He eventually came across an old man who had seen Hermes leading the cattle away. The old man described Hermes as a young boy wearing a hat with wings on it.

Apollo quickly realized that it was none other than Hermes who had stolen his cattle. He confronted him about it, but Hermes denied any wrongdoing. However, when Apollo threatened to take him to Zeus for punishment, Hermes confessed and returned the cattle to their rightful owner.

As punishment for his misdeeds, Apollo demanded that Hermes give him his lyre – an instrument that Hermes had invented himself. However, when Apollo heard Hermes play it beautifully, he was so impressed that he decided to let him keep it in exchange for the cattle.

In conclusion, according to Greek mythology, young Hermes stole Apollo’s cattle but eventually returned them after being caught by Apollo himself. As punishment for this misdeed, Apollo demanded that Hermes give him his lyre.

However, he was so impressed by Hermes’ musical talents that he allowed him to keep the lyre in exchange for the cattle. The story of “Theft of Apollo’s Cattle” is a fascinating tale that showcases the cunning and wit of Hermes, as well as the importance of music in Greek mythology.