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 (Hermz) 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 Pheenicians 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. 
