Hermes was an important god in the Greek pantheon and one of the Twelve Olympians . He is best known for being the herald or messenger of the gods and is portrayed in many myths as such. In addition, in artistic depictions, Hermes is given attributes that allow him to play this role well. His other domains of interest included trade, diplomacy, travel, and thievery. The Roman counterpart of Hermes is the god Mercury.
According to Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, a daughter of Atlas and one of the Pleiades. Hermes is generally believed to have been born in a cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. Due to his relation to Atlas, Hermes is known also as Atlantiades, while his birthplace earned him the epithet Cyllenius.
