Hermes - The Messenger God

Hermes: Herald and Messenger to the god Zeus
Roman name: Hermes
Translation: Mercurius, Mercury
 
A jack of all trades, Hermes is also known as the god of herds and flocks, travelers and hospitality, roads trade, thievery and cunning, heralds, diplomacy, athletics, astronomy and astrology. He also had a lot to do with art, merchants and commerce.
 
Parents: Zeus and Maia

Consort: The nymph Penelopia

Children: Pan
 
Emblems and articles: Herald’s wand, winged helmet and boots
Animals associated with the god: The ram and the hare
 
Mentioned in: The Odyssey, where he gave the hero a magic herb to protect him from the witch Kirke, and many, many other myths.
 
 
 ˜**Your creepy bit of history** – As a newborn, Hermes crawled out of his crib and stole cattle from the god Apollon (pretty crafty kid). This amused Zeus so much that he decided to make Hermes an Olympian god.
 
Sources: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, theoi.com, greekmthology.com
 
His role in the Tides of Atlantis book series:
Hermes is first introduced in the Tides of Atlantis world in Crystal Tide. He finds Kay (FMC) on Mt. Olympus in Xieran’s home. Check out his big debut scene in the series down below.
 
Excerpt from Crytsal Tide:
 
***
Midway down the hall, steam billowed out of an open door, spilling onto the floor. In the middle of all the haze, a naked man stood. Well, there was a small white towel wrapped low around his hips but that was it. He was big. It seemed like all the men she’d been encountering lately were of the supersized variety. This one was covered head to toe with glistening golden muscle of which she could see nearly every inch, especially as the glorious steam started to dissipate.
The humming stopped, ending in a low, amused kind of growl that made Kay bring her eyes up. She’d been mesmerized by his physique but his face was perfection too ─ boyish good looks meets raw masculinity with two of the bluest eyes that she’d ever seen. His blonde hair was slicked back with moisture and one perfect gold brow lifted over his eye. A slow, one-sided smile shaped his mouth as he shifted his weight. He flung the loose towel he was holding up over his shoulder to rest there, hooked in his forefinger. Woof. This guy had to be a model, maybe for the cover of one of Esmé’s books…or a towel company. Yeah, she’d buy towels from him.
“Hello,” he said, “and who might you be?”
His voice was cultured. His tone low like he was speaking just above a whisper but she had no trouble hearing him. It was very sexy
A giant grin spread across his whole gorgeous mouth as he took a step toward her. Kay backed up, eyes widening but she still hadn’t found the nerve to say anything.
“Are you a friend of Xieran’s little lamb?”
He kept moving closer. She kept backing up. Man he was big! Standing at only five three herself, his size was unnerving. Her feet picked up speed as she scampered back out of the hallway until her heel hit the edge of that recessed floor and she started to fall.
His hands shot out, grabbing her right as she was about to go over, then he pulled her up against his shiny moist torso. Wow, just wow. She almost let a whimper out but restrained herself. After a second, he moved back a step to brush at a chunk of hair that had fallen over her eye. Kay shook her head. She probably looked like a Muppet. It must be her lot in life to be ever bedraggled in front of beautiful men.
Looking up into his eyes, she could have sworn the irises sparkled or glittered or something. She knew she had to get out of there…fast.
“Uh…uh…I-I don’t know how I got here,” she stuttered out finally.
He frowned.
“But I’d really like to go home now so…”
She nodded her head vigorously, making it hurt again and sending her hair back into her eye. A look of concern came over his gorgeous face. His too beautiful mouth opened but didn’t have the chance to speak before a new voice broke in from the other side of the room.
“No chance.”
Kay turned her head to look and nearly fell over again. It was her dream guy’s doppelganger from the fountain, the angry version.
“What are you doing here Hermes?”
 He must have been one of those men who was terminally pissed off because he was just as mad now as before.
Kay’s whole body went on high alert as soon as he walked into the room. He was so fierce and intimidating. Too bad he was also incredibly attractive – like, giving the Adonis in the towel a run for his money attractive. Kay shook her head, awestruck, he looked exactly like the King from her vision except that his hair was cut short and he had a sexy shadow beard. Also, he wore way more designer clothes but that didn’t hide the fact that his body was just as muscled and delicious as the man from her dream.
She realized he was scowling at her and snapped out of her trance. Don’t look at him as anything but an enemy she screamed at herself. He kidnapped you out of thin air!
“Good to see you too Xieran,” the big beautiful giant holding her said. He released her arm as he turned to the newcomer. “Did you have a nice trip?”
The other man stared at him, green eyes sparking. If looks could kill, Kay thought. Maybe she could sneak away while these two were busy shooting face daggers at each other and find her way out of here. She moved just a twitch and “green eyes” speared her with his stare. She froze. Maybe not.
“I just came to use your sauna.” Towel guy said from beside her. “When I came out, I found this little wood sprite wandering around.”
He looked down at Kay, giving her a wink. At least he wasn’t as scary as “green eyes” was.
“You have your own sauna.”
“I know,” Hermes shrugged his great shoulders. “I like yours. Besides, we have matters to discuss. But, first, we should see to your guest.”
“She’s not a guest. I found her hijacking the Tides portal on my way back from Miami. She neglected to tell me who she is but she did admit to being from the Underworld.”
“Huh?” Kay and Hermes both said at the same time.
Hermes cocked his head in her direction.
 
For more fun with myths and legends, check out some of my favorite sites: www.theoi.com, mythsbaby.com
 
*Sketch Art by CH Drawing and Painting

Find the Tides of Atlantis series by Amanda V. Shane on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!