The Cult Of Hermes

This thesis attempts to study the cult of Hermes in Ancient Greece, based onavailable ancient literature、archaeological materials and pictorial art.It took ancient Greeks a long time to worship the god of Hermes, rendered as anOlympian god. In early1950s,with the successful decipherment of Linear B and theappearance of the name of Hermes in Linear B tablets，at least we can trace the cult ofHermes back to the late Mycenaean Bronze Age. Moreover, we can premise that someaspects of the cult of Hermes continue to the historical even classical period. The nameof Hermes points to one single phenomenon: herma, namely a heap of stones, used toproclaim territory, which consequently personified to Hermes, who primarilyrepresented for natural power. In classical period, most of the Hermes stone form whichplaced in roads, demonstrated the direction for the Polis, to some degree, it mayinfluenced by the prime herma.In ancient Greek myths and legends, imaginative Greeks created Hermes to be agod owning diverse figures and enjoying a higher popularity compared to other gods,even a god on behalf of the benefit of civilian through the way of personification.However, to cater to the actual needs in different times and regions, Greeks may opt toemphasize one from the diverse figures or create a new figure. The figures of Hermeswere diverse and not changeless.To a large extent, the cults of Hermes were performed at the popular level, insteadof large scale and sacred temples or civil festivals. The existence of Hermes reflected inthe Hermes stone form, widely installed in crossroads、market、arena and personal home.In this way, Hermes controlled the holy domain, and controlled the special approach tocontact with the Greeks. Furthermore, the relationship between Greeks and Hermes wasnot popular, but sacred, particularly when it came to the profane of the Hermes stoneform in Athens before the Sicily expedition. It implied the important function of theGreek religion to ancient Greek polis from the Athens and civilian`s reflection on thisprofane. In a conclusion, there is an intimate relationship between the ancient Greek polisand the cult of Hermes. The cult of Hermes expresses the Greek polis, in turn, to somedegree, Greek polis expressed the cult of Hermes. As to the cult of Hermes and therelationship between cult and polis, this thesis will attempt to make it in detail.