Mythology Quiz (Nov `12)

Where is Hermes born?

shadowy cave in Cyllene, Arcadia

Hermes & Tortoise

• Hermes finds tortoise = lucky omen, and carries inside

• scoops out tortoise flesh, fits the shell with reed arms, crossbar, seven sheep-gut strings

• tortoise = first lyre

how many cow does Hermes steal

fifty

Where did Hermes steal the cows

apollo’s herd in pieria

How did Hermes hide his tracks

makes the cattle walk backward and wears brushwood sandals on his own feet

Where does Hermes take the cows and what does he say

alpheios river and tells old man to keep quiet

Two scarfifce details show more than ordinary cleverness

1. invents fire with laurel and fire stick

2. resists smell of the meat and doesn’t eat any

how does Hermes divided the sacrificed meat

twelve portions - burns bones and fat

how does Hermes hide the evidence

throws sandals into river, hide cows in cave, and sneaks back into his cradle

why Apollo angry

fifty of his cows are missing - bird and Shepard lead him to Hermes

how does Hermes defend himself to Apollo

claims to be an infant born yesterday and swears oath by father’s head

How does zeus react to Apollo v. Hermes

LOLs at his “evil-witted child” and orders reconciliation

What does Hermes give Apollo

lyre

Apollo’s gift to Hermes

• golden wand

• whip

• charge over the herds

• honor among gods

Two comical moments in the Hymn to Hermes

1. hermes lies in his cradle wrapped like a baby, feet too tender to walk

2. swears innocence by father’s head while winking and Zeus laughs

Pan’s father

hermes (mercury)

what happens at pan birth

goat footed and two horned, nurse runs away in fear

mercury’s role as a civilizer

refines crude customs of early humans

Horace say about mecury’s intellectual cleverness

clever at hiding things through playful thievery

mercury role as guide of soul

escorts souls to the underworld