OF THE SADDLE AND SIRLOIN CLUB 337 



THE HERDSMAN'S GOD 



141. In Greek and Roman mythology, Hermes was the God 

 of the Wind, and hence of the dwellers of open places. He was 

 born, full fledged, the son of Zeus and Maia, in a cave on Mount 

 Cyllene in Arcadia. Immediately after birth he stole forth from 

 the cave and siezed the cattle of Apollo, the sun-god, dragging 

 them back to his cave. He stoutly denied the theft, even to the 

 mighty Zeus (Jove or Jupiter of the Romans), and when con- 

 victed, pacified his brother with a lyre he had fortunately devised 

 from a tortoise shell on which only the dried sinews remained. 

 He was the herdsman's god, especially invoked to secure 

 increase in fold and paddock, and the ram and calf were asso- 

 ciated in the worship of him. He was the deity of good luck, 

 sharp trade, and "windfalls," and later became the patron of 

 the cattle thieves. Hermes was sublimely swift, wearer of winged 

 sandals, bearer of a magic wand (later the Caduceus), and guide 

 of the souls that seek Charon to cross the River Styx. He was 

 the spirit of the open road and the flowing sail. Along the 

 highways square pillars (Hermae) guided the traveller, with the 

 head of the god and the phallus as decorative features. The 

 sailor invoked his aid to bring the precious trade winds or to still 

 the obstreperous blast. To the Romans he was Mercury; to the 

 Egyptians, Thoth, to the Phoenicians Taaut; and to the Babylo- 

 nians, Nabu. From his fabled fleetness both the twinkling red 

 of the planet Mercury and the fluid activity of quicksilver at 

 ordinary temperatures drew their names. 



142. Bust of John Sherman. 



