Hermes

Coming to Pieria where Apollo was tending his herd of cows. Hermes waited until night before stealing the herd (as well as Apollo's bow and quiver), and then hid them in a cave. On the way back he discovered a tortoise and using its shell, stretched ox-hide and reeds, made the first lyre. Then he returned to his nurse Cyllene, who was unaware that he was missing.

Apollo discovered the loss the next morning and by means of divination determined that it was Hermes who'd done the deed. Going to Cyllene he accused Hermes of the crime, to which Hermes denied and Cyllene did not believe possible. In frustration Apollo seized the infant and carried him to Olympus to ask Zeus for a judgement.

Zeus was amused by the prank but had to give Apollo, another of his sons, justice. Hermes at last confessed to the deed and lead Apollo to the cave where all but two of the herd were hidden. Hermes however showed Apollo the lyre and played it for him. Apollo, impressed by the instrument, traded the herd and a golden staff for it. From then on, Apollo became a god of music and Hermes a god of flocks and herds, and they became friends. The other two cows had been slaughtered and served up into twelve portions, one for each of the gods of Olympus and one for Hermes, who was then accepted as an Olympian.

Functions & Abilities

Like Iris, he is a god of travel, and has impunity to enter the land of the dead. He is also god of thieves and tricksters, of shepherds and of travellers.