Have you ever heard the tale of Hermes and Apollo? It’s a story of deceit, trickery, and cunning.
As the Greek myth goes, Hermes once stole something from Apollo that was very dear to him. But what exactly did Hermes take from Apollo? Let’s dive into the story.
The Tale of Hermes and Apollo
One day, Apollo went to play his lyre in a meadow. He left his prized possession, the lyre, unattended while he went to take a nap. While he was sleeping, Hermes came along and saw the lyre lying there.
Hermes, being the mischievous god that he was, decided to play a trick on Apollo. He picked up the lyre and began to play it himself. To his surprise, he found that he had a natural talent for playing music.
When Apollo woke up from his nap, he immediately realized that his beloved lyre was missing. He searched high and low for it but couldn’t find it anywhere.
Meanwhile, Hermes had taken the lyre back to his home in a nearby cave. He continued to practice playing it until he became an expert musician himself.
Days later, when Apollo was still mourning the loss of his cherished instrument, he heard someone playing beautiful music in the distance. When he approached the source of the sound, he saw Hermes playing his own lyre with skill and grace.
Apollo was shocked and angry at first but couldn’t help being impressed by Hermes’ musical talent. He demanded that Hermes return his lyre immediately.
But Hermes wasn’t willing to give up his newfound passion so easily. He challenged Apollo to a musical contest where each would play their own instrument and let a group of mortals judge who played better.
Apollo agreed to this challenge and they both played their instruments with great skill. The mortals were divided in their opinions – some preferred Apollo’s playing while others preferred Hermes’.
In the end, Apollo graciously accepted his defeat and returned the lyre to its rightful owner. From that day on, Hermes was known not only as the god of trickery but also as the god of music.
The Moral of the Story
This tale teaches us a valuable lesson – that sometimes, our greatest strengths can come from unexpected places. Just like how Hermes discovered his love for music by chance, we too should be open to exploring new passions and talents.
Moreover, it also highlights the importance of healthy competition and how it can push us to become better versions of ourselves. Apollo and Hermes’ musical contest inspired them both to play their instruments with even greater skill and passion.
In conclusion, what did Hermes take from Apollo? He took his lyre but in return gave him something far more valuable – a newfound appreciation for healthy competition and a shared love for music.