In Greek mythology, Hermes was known as the messenger of the gods. He was also the god of trade, thieves, and travelers.
One day, Hermes decided to steal Apollo’s cows. Why did he do it? Let’s find out.
The Story of Hermes and Apollo’s Cows
According to legend, Hermes was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. When he was just a few hours old, he showed remarkable intelligence and cunning. He left his cradle and went out to explore the world.
On his way, he saw a herd of beautiful cows grazing in a field. These cows belonged to Apollo, the god of music and poetry.
But Hermes didn’t care about that. He wanted the cows for himself.
So he devised a plan. He took some branches from a nearby tree and made them into brooms. Then he went to the field where Apollo’s cows were grazing and started sweeping the ground.
The cows were curious about this strange creature sweeping the ground with brooms made of branches. They gathered around him to watch what he was doing.
Hermes then started playing his lyre and singing songs to them. The cows were enchanted by his music and followed him as he led them away from the field.
Apollo soon realized that his cows were missing and became angry. He searched for them everywhere but couldn’t find them.
Finally, he went to ask an old man named Battus if he had seen his cows. Battus told him that he had seen a young man with a lyre leading a group of cows towards Pylos.
Apollo knew right away that it was Hermes who had stolen his cows. He confronted Hermes about it and demanded that he return them immediately.
Hermes tried to deny it at first but eventually admitted that he had taken Apollo’s cows. He then offered to give some of them back as a gesture of goodwill.
Apollo was still angry, but he agreed to accept Hermes’ offer. From that day on, the two gods became friends and worked together on many projects.
The Moral of the Story
The story of Hermes and Apollo’s cows teaches us a valuable lesson about the consequences of stealing. Hermes thought that he could get away with taking something that didn’t belong to him, but he was eventually caught and had to face the consequences.
It also shows us that even the gods can make mistakes and have conflicts with each other. But in the end, they were able to work things out and become friends.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hermes stole Apollo’s cows because he wanted them for himself. But he soon learned that stealing is wrong and had to face the consequences of his actions. This story teaches us about the importance of honesty and friendship, even among gods.