hermes and poseidon relationship hermes and poseidon relationship

Hermes thus left behind his propensity for telling lies and instead carried the words of his father across the world. As Zeus was the chief god of the pantheon, Hermes the messenger would carry his words across the world and into other realms. However, Aphrodite petitioned Zeus to allow Adonis to spend the summer months in her company, and Zeus agreed. Immediately after he was born he went out and killed a tortoise. "Pan is held to be the youngest of the gods . . ", Corinna, Fragment 666 : CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. PERSEPHONE The gods Hermes, Ares, Apollon and Hephaistos all wooed Persephone before her marriage to Haides. "Kekrops married Agraulos, daughter of Aktaios, and had a son Erysikhthon . The theft and role of messenger show two different archetypes that combined, uniquely, in Hermes. 5 (trans. PHYLODAMEIA One of the fifty princesses of Argos (southern Greece) known as the Danaides. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. She says that she loves Odysseus as a husband and has even offered to make him immortal. In Greek mythology, Zeus and Poseidon were two of the ruling brothers of the pantheon along with the third brother, Hades. "Caducifer [Hermes] rose soaring on his wings, and in his flight looked down upon the land [of Attika] that Minerva [Athene] loves and the Munychian fields and the Lyceum's cultivated groves. "[Althaimenes grandson of Minos] left Krete with his sister Apemosyne and went to a certain place on Rhodes . Is glory not a curse as well? When talking about Minthe and Persephone, Poseidon warns Hades that his relationship with Persephone could be considered an emotional affair, which could be more damaging than a physical affair. Contents 1 Characteristics and Personality 2 Physical description 3 History 3.1 Before Hades 3.2 Hades 3.3 Epilogue 4 Affinity 4.1 Favor 5 Codex entry 6 Quotes 7 Boons 8 Relationships Persephone, Latin Proserpina or Proserpine, in Greek religion, daughter of Zeus, the chief god, and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture; she was the wife of Hades, king of the underworld. Goold) (Roman elegy C1st B.C.) 180-181 (trans. Another frequent theme was that disputes among the gods must be settled by arbitration. He offered Hermes a place of honor at Olympus, which the thrill-seeking young god greatly preferred over his mothers quiet rural cave. Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : But Anchises could never walk upright again. Determined to retrieve her from the underworld, Dionysus went down, forced Death to stand aside, and brought Semele out of that gloomy region. There the new god developed and had a second birth. Godley) (Greek historian C5th B.C.) Hermes, and Ares. The connection between Hermes and Zeus was probably the result of the two roles he played in early mythology. Her throat, mouth, lips were hardened into stone; and there, a lifeless statue she remained, nor was it white, but with her dark thoughts stained. "Mercurius [Hermes] stirred by Venus's [Aphrodite's] beauty, fell in love with her, and when she permitted no favours, became greatly downcast, as if in disgrace. The sex-change theme also occurred in classical mythology. "My own opinion is that Hermes gave Amphion these gifts, both the [magical] lyre and the headband, because he was overcome by love for him. From that time on Aphrodite slept with many. "Autolykos, who lived on Mount Parnassos, and was said to be a son of Hermes, although his real father [the man who raised him] was Daidalion. . To Phoebus there was born (for she had twins) Philammon, famed alike for song and lyre. NYMPHE (UNNAMED) A nymph of Sicily (southern Italy) who bore Hermes a son named Daphnis. Handsome, vigorous, immortal, these deities were exceedingly jealous of their own honor. . Cadmus [not Kadmos but Euandros, son of Hermes and Karmentis] in exile from Arcadia, took them to Italy, and his mother Carmenta changed them to Latin to the number of 15. Demeter rejected all their gifts and hid her daughter away from the company of the gods. At length he managed to trap the serpent in a gorge by Parnassus and promptly slew the monster with his arrows. By Apollo she bore Philammon, and by Mercurius [Hermes], Autolycus. Rather than appear himself, Zeus often sent Hermes to issue orders or warnings, and to carry out other errands. and three daughters, Agraulos, Herse, and Pandrosos . Jove [Zeus] pitied him, and when Venus [Aphrodite] was bathing in the river Achelous he sent and eagle to take her sandal to Amythaonia of the Egyptians and give it to Mercurius [Hermes]. : Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1. Poseidon sent messengers to fetch her, and one of them, a dolphin, was able to persuade her to marry the lord of the sea. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. As a warrior goddess, Athena was depicted in long, flowing robes, wearing a helmet and holding a spear in one hand and a winged victory in the other. 552 ff (trans. She bore him a son Aithalides. From its shell Hermes created the lyre, and with it he lulled his mother Maia to sleep, which left him free to do as he pleased. Apollo and Hermes jested about how they would not mind being caught in the net with such an attractive goddess; and Poseidon became enamored of Aphrodite and offered to guarantee payment of the dowry, should Ares default. 301 ff (trans. Kronos was said to be the most feared tyrant in the cosmos, but was dethroned by his children when they lead a rebellion against him known as the Titanomachy. Once their characters, functions, and deeds had been defined, the Greek gods really could not develop anymore. . Moreover, he demanded that Zeus return the dowry he had paid for his wife, but Zeus was disgusted with the whole affair and left. . Zeus was astonished when Apollo accused the babe of thieving his cattle. Thus, Zeus is the most obvious and sensible choice for the father of the clever messenger god. 181 ff (trans. AGLAUROS A princess of Athens in Attika (southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son, Keryx. Among her inventions were the trumpet, the flute, the pot, the rake, the plow, the yoke, the bridle, the ship, and the chariot. Gods in The Odyssey His functions were related to travel for the most part, as a god of the roads, of commerce, of thievery, and an usher of the dead in the netherworld. The Heroes Perseus, Bellerophon, and Heracles. I'll not invent a reason. She dared to set herself above Diana [Artemis], faulting her fair face. He was also god of eloquence and presided over some kinds of popular divination. "Panes, the sons of Hermes, who divided his love between two Nymphai; for one he visited the bed of Sose; for one he visited the bed of Sose, the highland prophetess, and begat a son inspired with the divine voice of prophecy, [the Pan] Agreus, well versed in the beast-slaying sport of the hunt. Unlike the other gods, both deities must undergo great suffering, Demeter through the loss of her daughter and Dionysus through his own dismemberment. Campbell, Vol. . He grew into a handsome youth, and Persephone took him for a lover. 1 (trans. The girl contrived a union with the king and became pregnant. Both in literature and cult Hermes was constantly associated with the protection of cattle and sheep, and he was often closely connected with deities of vegetation, especially Pan and the nymphs. Both deities were known for their incredible beauty and powerful influence over mortals. Zeus thus gained the mastery of the sky, Poseidon of the seas, and Hades of the underworld. [see Family], KLYTIE (Clytie) A woman or nymph of Elis (southern Greece) who was the mother of Myrtilos by Hermes. This then was the reason why the earth was barren in winter Demeter was sorrowing for her lost daughter. His mother was a reclusive nymph named Maia. ", For MORE information on these deities see APHRODITE and HERMAPHRODITOS, LOCALE : Lake Boibeis, Thessalia (Northern Greece) OR Eleusis, Attika (Southern Greece). Mercury Father: Jupiter Mother: Maia Siblings (All Half): Mars, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, Venus, Bacchus, Juventas, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Vulcan, Perseus, Minos, the . Aphrodite infected the girl with an incestuous love for the king, her father. . Dionysus shattered Pentheus' palace and drove him mad. If Zeus never lay with her he was tempted, and he punished her by making her fall in love with a mortal, the handsome Trojan prince, Anchises. "If quikshoe Hermes has made merry bridal with you, if he has forgotten his own Peitho [his wife]. About the Author The author of " The war between Hermes and Poseidon" is one of the worst story tellers known to man. To Hermes she bore a son Autolykos. Poseidon and Athena, Apollo and Hermes, Aphrodite and Persephone, and Demeter and Hades had to settle their arguments in this way. The Greeks were contentious and loved fights, contests, battles of wit, trials. ", Nonnus, Dionysiaca 48. Zeus started to worry and finally sent Hermes down to the netherworld to fetch Persephone back to her mother. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Herodotus, Histories 2. Night strewed the sky with stars; Phoebus [Apollon] took the guise of an old woman and obtained his joys--forestalled. And now a hawk, benign to one, he vents his savagery on every bird and, as in grief he goes, ensures that others grieve and share his woes. Straighway she [Athena] sought the filthy slimy shack were Invidia (Envy) dwelt [and summoned her to lay her curse upon the girl] . . In the Homeric "Hymn to Demeter," the story is told of how Persephone was gathering flowers in the Vale of Nysa when she was seized by Hades and removed to the underworld. [see Family], AKALLE (Acalle) A princess of Krete (Greek Aegean) loved by Hermes. No earthly power could shackle the god and his followers; they escaped easily. She bore him a son Euandros, with whom she emmigrated to Latium (in Italia). "Sons of Mercurius [Hermes] . The temple was constructed to be Demeter's dwelling place. Then he courted Amphitrite, another sea nymph, but she disliked him and fled far away. Greek writers all agreed that Hermes was the son of Zeus. Hephaestus was infatuated with his beautiful bride, but apparently she was less than enchanted with him, for she took the virile Ares, god of war, as her lover. . THEOBOULE (Theobule) A woman of Elis (in Southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son, Myrtilos. Yes, Hermes was a well liked God on olympus and as you will see below he didn't let the other olympians disliking for Ares alter his thoughts on him. : Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 224 (trans. He then raped her. Because Hermes took on both of these roles, he was connected to Zeus in many ways. The ability to travel between realms made Hermes an obvious choice for the herald and messenger of the gods because he could travel where even other deities could not. By virtue of his connection with Zeus he was able to secure a modest place for his mother on Olympus. "Apollo and Mercurius [Hermes] are said to have slept the same night with Chione, or, as other poets say, with Philonis [an alternative name for Chione], daughter of Daedalion. Lattimore) (Greek epic C8th B.C.) KROKOS (Crocus) An Arkadian youth (southern Greece) who was loved by Hermes. : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. 6. She may be the same as Brimo mentioned above, in which case her name is probably a title for Hekate or Persephone. It chanced that day was Pallas' festival [the Panathenaia] and virgins carried, in the accustomed way, in baskets, flower-crowned, upon their heads the sacred vessels to her hilltop shrine. to C1st A.D.) : Homer, Iliad 16. to C1st A.D.) : Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. This greatly concerns Hades, as he does not want to cheat on either of the women. A randy bachelor, he seduced Phthia, Thalia, Coronis, Aria, Cyrene, and the nymph Dryope, having children by each. According to the myths, Zeus was the king and the three divided power between the realms. The name Odysseus relates to the Greek verb odussomai, which can mean "to be angry at," or "to be grieved.". Zeus and Hermes were father and son, but how closely were the two Olympians linked in mythology? The twin sister of Apollo, Artemis was the virgin-huntress, a goddess of the chase and forest creatures. She also invented mathematics and excelled in the arts of cooking, spinning, and weaving. . It is probably that these two roles of Hermes, Underworld messenger and trickster, developed independently. Born a thief and a liar, he uses his wits to both help and aggravate the other gods of the pantheon. Presently gracious (akaketa) Hermes went up with her into her chamber and lay secretly with her, and she bore him a son, the shining Eudoros, a surpassing runner and a quick man in battle. Hera had sent the serpent Python to pursue Apollo's mother, Leto, during her pregnancy. Hades had taken the maiden to be his queen, while Zeus had consented to it. On two occasions Apollo aroused the anger of his father, Zeus. The Maenads rushed upon Pentheus, thinking him a wild beast. [see Family], ANTIANEIRA A woman of Alope in Malis (northern Greece) who bore Hermes two sons: Ekhion and Eurytos. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. The master of the lyre and song, Apollo was especially vain about his musical prowess, and kept the Muses as part of his retinue. The Beginnings Loves of Zeus, Next Yet, Persephone was allowed to remain with Demeter for eight months of a year even if she had to spend the other four in the underworld. Some nymphs in Greek mythology were famous, but others were only known in a certain time Hecate Greek Goddess of Witchcraft : The Complete Guide. ", For MORE information on these nymphs see OREIADES, LOCALE : Doros, Thessalia (Northern Greece), Nonnus, Dionysiaca 14. KHTHONOPHYLE (Chthonophyle) A queen of Sikyonia (southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son named Polybos. He was born in 530 B. C. and died In 529 B. C. He was only one year old. To everyones shock, newborn Hermes stood before his father and eloquently echoed his mothers words that he was too young to do any of the things he had been accused of. 220 ff (trans. Thus it is natural that Poseidon be tempestuous as the god of the sea, or that Artemis be mannish as the goddess of the forest, or that Hermes be clever as a god of commerce and thievery, or that Aphrodite be seductive as the goddess of love, and so on. 552 ff (trans. [N.B. zeus CHARACTERISTICS/ ACTIONS/ WHAT THEY ARE KNOWN FOR - Supreme ruler but not omniscient or omnipotent - Lord of the sky, the rain-god, cloud-gatherer - He falls in love with multiple women other than wife. In addition to being romantically linked, they often worked together to . : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. there where his sacred place is as god of Kyllene. As a deity of light he helped to ripen crops, destroy pests, and heal illnesses. 21-23 (trans. Athena took care of this infant, and eventually he became king of Athens and made Athena the chief deity of the city. It was decreed, however, that if she partook of any food in the kingdom of the dead she would have to return. "To Mercurius [Hermes], runs the tale, and Cythereia [Aphrodite] a boy was born whom in Mount Ida's caves the Naides nurtured; in his face he showed father and mother and took his name from both. I may be getting a Job on the sea and I worship hermes mostly but other gods exist as well to me. As the herald of Zeus, Hermes was much more closely tied to his father than many of his siblings. The Norse Hermod is similar, but his mythology is much less well-defined or prominent. She accused him, and the rest of the gods, of hypocrisy. Hermes won and carried her off to Tanagra in Boiotia. His name is probably derived from herma ( see herm ), the Greek word for a heap of stones, such as was used in the country to indicate boundaries or as a landmark. [see Family], ALKIDAMEA (Alcidamea) A princess of Korinthos (southern Greece) who bore Hermes a son named Bounos. After defeating Marsyas in a music contest Apollo had another contest with Pan, the goat-god. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) ", For MORE information on this goddess see PERSEPHONE, Homeric Hymn 5 to Aphrodite 256 ff (trans. Newer gods were often given origin myths that made them the children of more established deities. to C1st A.D.) : Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. . [see Family], THRONIA A princess of Aigyptos (Egypt) who bore Hermes a son, named Arabos. The happiness of lucky Herse smouldered in her heart like green thorns on a fire that never flame nor give good heat but wanly burn away. 67 ff (trans. Often she was depicted as a voluptuous nude of striking beauty. APTALE A woman who was the mother of Eurestos by Hermes. In a variation of the Hyacinth myth, it was Hermes' lover Crocus who was killed by a discus thrown. . Into the room of Cecrops' child she [Invidia] went and did as she was bid. The mother screamed and her son died. . For the MYTH of Hermes and Perseus see Hermes Favour: Perseus. Pan, son of Mercurius [Hermes] and Penelope. 153. And often one or both of the disputants were unhappy at the outcome. The relationship between Hermes and the goddess Aphrodite is one of the most enduring and iconic couples. 181 ff (trans. A curse indeed to many! . DAEIRA An underworld goddess who mated with Hermes and bore him a daughter (or son) named Eleusis. While some rarely interacted with the king of Olympus, Hermes spoke with his fathers full authority and carried out his will. Hermes was also a dream god, and the Greeks offered to him the last libation before sleep. What profit was it to have pleased two gods, produced two boys, to have a valiant father, a shining grandfather? On the way to get the cows Hermes took Apollo home and showed him the lyre he had made. Zeus then defined his duties as a god of travel and gave Hermes his winged sandals and his staff, the caduceus. the hawk was a bird sacred to both Apollon and Hermes. The other time Apollo angered Zeus occurred when Zeus killed Apollo's son, Asclepius, for resurrecting a dead man. His flashback debut occurs in Episode 25. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : In response, Calypso angrily shouts that the gods become jealous when goddesses sleep with mortals, though they often sleep with mortal women. His other bids for power were unsuccessful, too, as he tried to seize Naxos from Dionysus, Aegina from Zeus, Corinth from Helios, and Argolis from Hera. My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) Since nothing would grow, the lands became desolate and inhospitable to life. Definitely not a goddess to be trifled with, Athena was once assaulted by the furious Ares, who struck her on her invincible breastplate, the aegis. "Of these nine daughters [of Asopos, all carried off by gods] . The people of Sparta claimed that Ares had been nursed by a nymph called Thero. Yes, when he saw her on the pyre, four times an impulse came to rush into the flames; four times forced back, he fled away in frenzy; like an ox, its bowed neck stung by hornets, so he charged where no way was. Since Zeus withheld his vote, the goddesses were in the majority so that Athena won. As a messenger, he may also have become the god of roads and doorways, and he was the protector of travellers. with them the Seilenoi and the sharp-eyed Argeiphontes [Hermes] mate in the depths of pleasant caves. Hades, Greek Ades ("the Unseen"), also called Pluto or Pluton ("the Wealthy One" or "the Giver of Wealth"), in ancient Greek religion, god of the underworld. The third vegetation tale, that of Aphrodite and Adonis, is a restatement of the myth of Ishtar and Tammuz, which appears under "Babylonian Mythology." Corrections? . a god Hermes softens the anger of his brother by ______. The Slavic god Veles was even more similar to Hermes, a trickster connected to the Underworld who stole the cattle of the thunder god, Perun. Hermes presented himself to Zeus as a new god and promised never to steal or tell a lie again. To console himself Apollo made a laurel wreath from her. Since his mother Semele was a mortal, Dionysus had the status of a demi-god. 29C (trans. For all their glamour they became lifeless stereotypes. Romance. "Hermaphroditos, as he has been called, who was born of Hermes and Aphrodite and received a name which is a combination of those of both his parents. The dual roles Hermes played in Greek mythology both linked him to the lawful, stern ruled of Mount Olympus. 301 ff (trans. APEMOSYNE A princess of Krete and later Rhodes (Greek Aegean) who was impregnated by Hermes. Proud of her beauty, Aphrodite took offense when a queen of Cyprus bragged that her daughter was more lovely. " Let there be peace between Poseidon and Hermes" said Aphrodite. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Greek Lyric IV) (C5th B.C.) In many respects he was Apollos counterpart; like him, Hermes was a patron of music and was credited with the invention of the kithara and sometimes of music itself. While the adulterous couple was sporting in bed the net fell, binding the two fast. Zeus had fathered the girl, and she was strikingly beautiful. . Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Metaneira, however, grew suspicious and burst in upon Demeter as she was burning away the baby's mortal parts. 10 (trans. As the god of the vine Dionysus was closely connected to the earth. In The Odyssey, Hermes impacts the play by guiding the traveler Odysseus to retrieve his men safely. Even as Lucifer (the morning star) more brilliant shines than all the stars, or as golden Phoebe (the Moon) outshines Lucifer (the morning star), so Herse walked among her comrades, lovelier than them all, the fairest jewel of the festival. . Hermes The wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 3. Most of them revolve around some conflict. In vengeance Zeus hung Hera by her heels from Olympus, and he sent Apollo and Poseidon to a year's servitude under King Laomedon. LOCALE : Aitolia (Central Greece) AND Amythaonia (Egypt) OR Mt Ida, Troia (Anatolia), Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. There was also a motif of a woman needing to disguise herself as a male and later being transformed into a . Hermes tells Calypso that Zeus commands her to release Odysseus. To her for sure! He was also faithful to the mother he had never seen. From the time of her birth to the naming contest of the great city of Athens and long after, Poseidon seems to have a . Hermes witnesses the misfortune Odysseus goes through for angering the gods. Demeter in her anger abandoned Olympus and came to live on the earth disguised as a crone. came to Arkadia . But Poseidon flooded the country around Athens in retaliation. Athena was of great benefit to mankind as a goddess of the peaceful crafts. Still an infant, Hermes was pretending to sleep. 1 (trans. Zeus had the sky, Poseidon had the sea, and Hades had the underworld. When Apollo won he flayed the poor satyr to death and nailed his skin to a tree. Hermes had not yet gone to the bed of Peitho, and he offered his rod as gift to adorn her chamber [as bride-price for her hand-in-marriage, but all offers were declined by her mother Demeter]. 8. He even posted a reward. There are a few Greek gods and goddesses that play very important roles in The Odyssey. To her question Atlantis Pleione's grandson answered : I am he who bears his father's mandates through the sky. The Greek letters Mercurius [Hermes] is said to have brought to Egypt, and from Egypt Cadmus took them to Greece. Hermes could even issue commands to other gods in his fathers name. He was a shepherd god as well and protected flocks. So the sea god suggested that Ares should pay for the marriage gifts. Out in the mountains he came upon the frenzied woen as they feasted on animals they had torn apart. As Adonis' blood fell to the ground anemone flowers sprang forth. Greek mythology, however, emphasized the relationships between the gods more strongly. The Homeric epics, the Olympic games, the dialogs of Plato, the drama festivals, the public trials, and the recurrent warfare between Greek cities all bear witness to the prevalence of conflict in Greek culture. She bore children to the gods Hermes, Poseidon, and Dionysus, two of which were sexually abnormal. 16 (trans. The reason for the transformation varies, as in the case of Siproites (), a hunter from Crete, who was transformed to a woman by Artemis after having seen the goddess bathing/nude.. "Engendered form the sea-foam, we are told she [Aphrodite] became the mother by Mercurius [Hermes] of the second Cupidus [literally Eros but Cicero is probably referring to Hermaphroditos]. Nonetheless, Athena never felt the pangs of love and she remained a virgin. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). And one day as she was picking flowers Persephone wandered away from her companions to pick a strange but lovely narcissus plant. But at his mother's pleading she gave him the gift of prophecy to compensate for blindness. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. The Norse Loki, for example, was not one of the Aesir gods but was counted as their friend until his trickery became too damaging. 39 (trans. : A complete bibliography of the translations quoted on this page. ", LOCALE : Mt Parnassos, Phokis (Central Greece), Pausanias, Description of Greece 4. And lest the choice of woe should stray too wide, she set before her eyes her sister's [Herse's] face, her fortune-favoured marriage and the god so glorious; and painted everything larger than life. In the end she sat herself outside her sister's door to bar Cyllenius' [Hermes'] access. and Agraulos. 562 ff (trans. It was also decreed that earth, and Olympus in particular . In archaic art, apart from the stylized herms, he was portrayed as a full-grown and bearded man, clothed in a long tunic and often wearing a cap and winged boots. 230 ff : As the kingdom of Death it stands for the state to which every living thing must come. And since his soul descended to the underworld, Persephone at last had him all to herself. She was married to Hera's son Hephaestus, but the two never produced any children. He died of stage fright on a reenactment of the war of Poseidon and Hermes. 1 underworld of Greek mythology In Greek mythology, Zeus is the father of the clever messenger god, Hermes. He was shocked when Poseidon called him his brother, noting that was the first time he had ever . TANAGRA A Naiad-nymph of Argos (isouthern Greece) for whom the gods Ares and Hermes competed in a boxing match. Hermes is usually depicted as a young man with a wide-brimmed hat and winged sandals, carrying a herald's staff crowned with two snakes. Only, if you'll be so good, stand by your sister and consent to be aunt to my child. ", Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 160 (trans. "For your [Tanagra's] sake Hermes boxed against Ares. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. A heaven full of proud deities is just as unstable as a country in which pride is rampant. PENELOPE A queen of Ithaka (west-central Greece) and wife of Odysseus. Hermes traveled to give the command to the mortal prince and escorted the goddesses to him to be judged. A protectress of heroes, she assisted Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Achilles, and Odysseus in their various exploits. Poseidon also punished those who helped Odysseus, including the Phoenician people, whose ships he turned to stone! But Poseidon flooded the country around Athens in retaliation. While these tricksters eventually earned the enmity of the ruling sky gods, however, Hermes won the love of Zeus because of his dual role as both trickster and messenger.