The Young Hermes

Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia (one of the Pleides) and was born in a cavern on Mount Cyllene. By the afternoon of the day he was born the baby Hermes was bored and climbed out of his cradle and explored the cavern He found a tortoise, which he killed with his hands and used the shell to make a lyre which he played all afternoon.

By the evening he was bored of this as well and desired to find some adventure. He walked from Arcadia to Piera in Macedonia, where he found Apollo's herd of cows grazing. He took fifty cows from the herd and driving them backwards so as to leave confusing tracks he took them to a cave farm-yard near Pylos. While there he offered sacrifices to the gods. He made twelve alters and twelve portions of meat, offering them to the eleven Olympians and one to himself. He then continued his journey without the cows and on reaching Mount Cyllene he crept back to his cradle and fell asleep.

Maea had seen what her son had done and told him that Apollo would be furious and soon come and drag him away as a thief. Hermes replied that he did not want them to live in obscurity, Apollo and his mother had taken their place in Olympus and he wanted the same for them. At this point Apollo arrived, having followed the puzzling tracks. Hermes tried to look like an innocent baby in his cradle, but Apollo was not fooled, for he recognised the son of Zeus and his mother. When Hermes denied all knowledge of the cows, Apollo ordered Hermes to come to Olympus with him.

Apollo took Hermes to Zeus and told their father all that had happened. Hermes told Zeus that Apollo had brought no witness and had tried to compel a confession from him. He unashamedly swore that he had nothing to do with the cows. Zeus was very amused at the sight of a two day old baby arguing with the mighty Apollo. He eventually stopped laughing and told Hermes to return the cows to Apollo, and asked the two brothers to be friends.

Hermes took Apollo to the cave and his cows. While there Apollo noticed the 12 alters and sacrifices. When he asked why there were twelve, Hermes replied that the twelfth was for himself. Before Apollo could grow angry, Hermes took out the lyre he had made and played. Apollo was touched by the music and forgot his anger knowing only that he wanted the lyre. He told Hermes that he and his mother would be welcome on Olympus and in exchange for the lyre gave him the 50 cows and simple powers of soothsaying.

The brothers returned to Olympus where Zeus made Hermes promise never to tell direct lies and to respect the property of others. He made Hermes Herald and allowed him to join the council of Olympus.