Who Did Hermes Have Conflict With?

Hermes, the Greek god of commerce, thieves, and travelers, was a complex figure in ancient mythology. While he was generally considered a helpful deity who assisted mortals and immortals alike, he also had his fair share of conflicts with other gods and mortals.

One of the most well-known conflicts that Hermes had was with Apollo. According to myth, Hermes stole Apollo’s prized cattle shortly after he was born.

When Apollo discovered what had happened, he confronted Hermes about it. However, Hermes used his cunning wit to convince Apollo that he had done nothing wrong. As a result, Apollo and Hermes became friends instead of enemies.

Another notable conflict that Hermes had was with Zeus, the king of the gods. This occurred when Hermes stole some of Zeus’ ambrosia and nectar – the food and drink of the gods – in order to share them with mortals.

When Zeus discovered what had happened, he became angry with Hermes for violating the laws of the gods. However, in the end, Zeus forgave Hermes for his actions.

Hermes also had conflicts with other gods such as Athena and Hera. Athena was angry at Hermes for helping Odysseus by giving him a magical herb that protected him from Circe’s spells. Hera was upset with Hermes for helping Io escape from her watchful eye.

Aside from conflicts with other gods, Hermes also had run-ins with mortals such as Argos Panoptes – a giant who guarded Hera’s sacred cow – and Autolycus – a famous thief who trained under Hermes himself.

In conclusion, while Hermes may have been seen as a helpful god in many cases, he wasn’t immune to conflict or controversy. Whether it be stealing cattle or breaking laws of the gods by sharing their food with mortals, there were times when even this mischievous deity found himself at odds with others around him.