Homeric Hymn to Hermes

HomericHymns ?

• Dactylic Hexameter• Homer & Hesiod• Part of Epic Tradition

because of metre and delight in narrative

• Homeric Hymns stylistically closer to Hesiod.

• Sub-epic language - derivative

Preludes

• 29 short Hymns • 3-50 lines • mostly later, C4th

on• brief eulogies

addressed to some god/goddess with little or no narrative.

• preludes to longer epic recitation? Iliad/Odyssey?

4 Long Hymns

• 300-600 ls.• Demeter, Apollo,

Hermes, Aphrodite• c. 650-400 b.c.• Long Hymns to stand

by themselves in recitation?

• Long Hymns leisurely narration of central episode in deity's mythical biography (Demeter, Aphrodite, Hermes)broader coverage of deity's main aspects (Apollo)

God of Boundaries• Phallic God of fertility

& good fortune• Herma, hermai• Road & Boundary

Markers• Apotropaic function• Alcibiades & Sicilian

Expedition (415 b.c.)

Herms as Guardians

Zeus & Maia• Daughter of Atlas &

Pleione• Pleiades - 7 sisters

Hermes the Inventor

• Lyre & First Song!

• Pipes (Athena?)

• Drill fire-starter

Hermes the Herald

• Kerukeion• Caduceus• “Staff of Wealth &

Prosperity”• Exchange for

promise not to steal anything back from Apollo

• Iliad & Odyssey: staff puts people to sleep

Hermes Psychopompos

• Escort of Souls to the Underworld• Sole Messenger to Hades

Hermes the Kleptomaniac

• God of Thieves & Traders

• God of Flocks & Herds

The Cattle of Apollo

• Apollo-Helius?• Battus • Trick sandals

and cows dragged backwards / back-to-front shoes.

Hermes Argeiphontes

• Io - Isis• Argus Panoptes

Apollo & Prophecy

• Augury of Birds, Sneezes & Farts!

Hermes & Prophecy

• Maiden Trinity• Melissae - “honey-priestesses”• Thriai?• Divination by pebbles

Hermes the Carnivore?

• "Then glorious Hermes craved for the sacred meat

• because the sweet savor weakened his resolve, immortal though

• he was. But not even so was his manly soul prevailed upon,

• although his holy gullet greatly hankered for the meat."

Hesiodic Explanation

• Hermes claiming place as 1 of 12 major Olympian gods must abide by their rules.

• Mekone: mortals send smoke of burnt offerings to gods.

• Eats meat ---- not 1 of 12

Hermes in Tartarus

• Baby King of Baby Dead!

• Frozen at Stage or Condition when Death or Tartarus takes you

Hermes’ Children

• Hermaphroditus• Pan• Abderus

Hermaphroditus

• Child of Hermes & Aphrodite

• Salmacis• Active Female Gaze

Pan• God of “auto-eroticism”• God of Shepherds• Syrinx & Daphnis

Abderus

• Companion of Herakles• Mares of Diomedes

The Liminal God

• Trade• Theft• Messenger• Living & Dead• Male & Female• Human & Beast