Hermes, the Greek god of commerce, thieves, and travelers was a mischievous one indeed. He was known for his quick wit and cunning, but most importantly, he was infamous for his thieving ways. Of all the things that Hermes stole in his lifetime, there were a few that stood out among the rest.
Hermes Steals Apollo’s Cattle
One of the most well-known stories about Hermes’ thievery is the time he stole Apollo’s cattle. One day, Hermes came across a group of cows belonging to Apollo.
He decided to steal them and bring them back to his own herd. To cover up his tracks, Hermes put shoes on the cows backwards so that their footsteps appeared to be going in the opposite direction.
When Apollo discovered that his cows were missing, he searched high and low for them. Eventually, he came across Hermes who was playing a lyre made from a tortoise shell.
Upon seeing Apollo approaching him, Hermes quickly tried to deny any wrongdoing and even offered to play him a song. But it wasn’t long before Apollo noticed the distinctive sound of his own cattle mooing in the background.
In the end, Hermes had no choice but to return the cattle to Apollo and apologize for stealing them in the first place.
Hermes Steals Zeus’ Thunderbolts
Another famous instance of Hermes’ thievery involves him stealing Zeus’ thunderbolts. Zeus was known for wielding these powerful weapons which he used to strike down anyone who dared cross him.
One day, while Zeus was sleeping in a cave on Mount Ida, Hermes snuck in and stole his thunderbolts right out from under him. When Zeus woke up and realized what had happened, he was furious.
Zeus chased after Hermes all over Greece until finally catching up with him at Pylos. There they engaged in a fierce battle, but eventually, Hermes was able to outwit Zeus and return the thunderbolts to him.
Hermes Steals Aphrodite’s Girdle
Finally, there is the story of Hermes stealing Aphrodite’s girdle. Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She had a magical girdle that made anyone who wore it irresistibly attractive.
One day, Hera, the queen of the gods, asked Hermes to steal the girdle from Aphrodite and bring it back to her. Hermes agreed and snuck into Aphrodite’s chambers while she was sleeping. He then quietly took the girdle and brought it back to Hera.
When Aphrodite discovered that her girdle was missing, she was furious. She went to Zeus and demanded that he punish whoever had stolen it from her. However, when Zeus found out that it was Hermes who had taken it, he decided not to punish him since he had only done so at Hera’s request.
In conclusion, Hermes may have been a trickster and a thief, but he also had a certain charm about him that made him one of the most beloved gods in Greek mythology. While his thieving ways often got him into trouble with his fellow deities, they also made for some of the most entertaining stories in all of mythology.