TITLES OF HERMES : Ancient Greek religion

HERMES TITLES

OTHER HERMES CULT PAGES

Hermes Cult

HERMES was the god of the herds, markets, athletics and heraldry.

This page describes his various cult titles and poetic epithets.

ENCYCLOPEDIA HERMES TITLES

ACACE′SIUS (Akakêsios), a surname of Hermes (Callim. Hym. in Dian. 143), for which Homer (Il. xvi. 185; Od. xxiv. 10) uses the form akakêta (akakêtês). Some writers derive it from the Arcadian town of Acacesium, in which he was believed to have been brought up by king Acacus; others from kakos, and assign to it the meaning: the god who cannot be hurt, or who does not hurt. The same attribute is also given to Prometheus (Hes. Theog. 614), whence it may be inferred that its meaning is that of benefactor or deliverer from evil. (Compare Spanh. ad Callim. l. c.; Spitzner, ad Il. xvi. 185.)

AGE′TOR (Agêtôr), a surname given to several gods, for instance, to Zeus at Lacedaemon (Stob. Serm. 42): the name seems to describe Zeus as the leader and ruler of men; but others think, that it is synonymous with Agamemnon :-- to Apollo (Eurip. Med. 426) where however Elmsley and others prefer halêtôr :-- to Hermes, who conducts the souls of men to the lower world. Under this name Hermes had a statue at Megalopolis. (Paus. viii. 3. § 4.)

AGO′NIUS (Agônios), a surname or epithet of several gods. Aeschylus (Agam. 513) and Sophocles (Trach. 26) use it of Apollo and Zeus, and apparently in the sense of helpers in struggles and contests. (Comp. Eustath. ad Il. p. 1335.) But Agonius is more especially used as a surname of Hermes, who presides over all kinds of solemn contests. (Agônes, Paus. v. 14. § 7; Pind. Olymp. vi. 133, with the Schol.)

AGORAEUS and AGORAEA (Agoraia and Agoraios), are epithets given to several divinities who were considered as the protectors of the assemblies of the people in the agora, such as Zeus (Paus. iii. 11. § 8, v. 15. § 3), Athena (iii. 11. § 8), Artemis (v. 15. § 3), and Hermes. (i. 15. § 1, ii. 9. § 7, ix. 17. § 1.) As Hermes was the god of commerce, this surname seems to have reference to the agora as the market-place.

ARCAS (Arkas). A surname of Hermes. (Lucan, Phars. ix. 661; Martial, ix. 34. 6.)

ARGEIPHONTES (Argeiphontês), a surname of Hermes, by which he is designated as the murderer of Argus Panoptes. (Hom. Il. ii 103, and numerous other passages in the Greek and Latin poets.)

CATAE′BATES ( Kataibatês), occurs as a surname of several gods . . . 2. Of Acheron, being the first river to which the shades descended in the lower world . . . 4. Of Hermes, who conducted the shades into Hades. (Schol. ad Aristoph. Pac. 649.)

CTE′SIUS (Ktêsios), the protector of property, occurs as a surname of Zeus at Phlyus, and of Hermes. (Athen. xi. p. 473; Paus. i. 31. § 2.)

CYLLE′NIUS (Kullênios), a surname of Hermes, which he derived from mount Cyllene in Arcadia, where he had a temple (Paus. viii. 17. § 1), or from the circumstance of Maia having given birth to him on that mountain. (Virg. Aen. viii. 139, &c.)

ERIU′NIUS (Eriounios) or ERINNES, the giver of good fortune, occurs as a surname of Hermes, but is also used as a proper name instead of Hermes. (Hom. Il. xxiv. 440, 457, Od. viii. 322 ; Aristoph. Ran. 1143.)

I′MBRAMUS (Imbramos), a surname of Hermes (Eustath. ad Dionys. Per. 524; Steph. Byz. s. v. Imbros), in which Welcker (Trilogie, p. 217) recognises a name of the Pelasgian Hermes, who went from Attica to Lemnos, Imbros and Samothrace, and is said to have been identical with Himerus. He is seen on a coin of Imbros, with a patera and a knotty staff.

I′MBRASUS (Imbrasos) is, according to Eustathius (ad Hom. p. 985), identical with Imbramus, the surname of Hermes.

NO′MIUS (Noumios), a surname of divinities protecting the pastures and shepherds, such as Apollo, Pan. Hermes, and Aristaeus. (Aristoph. Thesmoph. 983; Anthol. Palat. ix. 217; Callim. Hymn. in Apoll. 47.)

PRO′MACHUS (Promakhos). The name Promachus, that is, "the champion," also occurs as a surname of Heracles at Thebes (Paus. ix. 11. § 2), and of Hermes at Tanagra (ix. 22. § 2).

[PRONAUS and] PRONAEA (Pronaia), a surname of Athena, under which she had a chapel at Delphi, in front of the temple of Apollo. (Herod. i. 92; Aeschyl. Eum. 21; Paus. ix. 10. § 2.) Pronaus also occurs as a surname of Hermes. (Paus. l. c.)

THEOXE′NIUS (Theoxenios), a surname of Apollo and Hermes. (Paus. vii. 27. § 2; Schol. ad Pind. Ol. ix. 146, Nem. x. 32.) Respecting the festival of the Theoxenia, see Dict. of Antiq. s. v.

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CULT TITLES OF HERMES

The first of Hermes' cult refer to his various divine functions: as god of herds and flocks, markets and trade, craftiness, roads and travel, athletics and the Games,.

Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	EpimhlioV Epimêlios Epimelius Keeper of the Flocks	KrioforoV Kriophoros Criophorus Ram Bearer	AgoraioV Agoraios Agoraeus Of the Market Place	DolioV Dolios Dolius Of Crafts, Of Wiles
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	TrikefaloV Trikephalos Tricephalus Three-Headed (of intersections)	EnagwnioV Enagônios Enagonius Of the Games	PromacoV Promakhos Promachus Champion	'ErmhneuthV Hermêneutês Hermeneutes Interpretor, Translator

Another set of cult titles were derived from the locations of his shrines, founders of his cult, and descriptions of their locale.

Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	KullhnioV Kyllênios Cyllenius Of Mt Kyllene (in Arkadia)	AkakhsioV Akakêsios Acacesius Of Akakesion (in Arkadia)	AiputoV Aipytos Aepytus Of Aipytos (hero Arkadia)	PropulaioV Propylaios Propylaeus Of the Gate Way
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	PronaoV Pronaos Pronaus Of the Fore-Temple

Some names are more obscure.

Greek Title:
Transliteration:
Latin Spelling:
Translation:

PolugioV
Polygios
Polygius
--

Parammwn
Parammôn
Parammon
--

POETIC TITLES & EPITHETS OF HERMES

I) Common Homeric titles of Hermes:

Greek Title:
Transliteration:
Latin Spelling:
Translation:

ArgeifonthV
Argeiphontês
Argeiphontes
Slayer of Argos

KullenioV
Kyllenios
Cyllenius
Of Mt Kyllene

MaiadoV HuioVh
Maiados Huios
Maeadus Hyius
Son of Maia

II) Common Homeric epithets of Hermes:

Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	DiaktoroV Diaktoros Diactorus Guide, Minister, Messenger	AqanatoV DaiktoroV Athanatos Diaktoros Immortal Guide	AngeloV Aqanatwn Angelos Athanatôn Messenger of the Gods	AngeloV Makarwn Angelos Makarôn Messenger of the Blessed Ones
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	CrusorrapiV Khrysorrhapis Chrysorrhapis Of the Golden Wand	FhlhthV Phêlêtês Pheletes Thief, Robber, Rustler	ArcoV Fhlhtewn Arkhos Phêlêteôn Leader of Robbers & Thieves	Klepsifrwn Klepsiphrôn Clepsiphron Deceiver, Dissembler
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	MhcaniwthV Mêkhaniôtês Mechaniotes Trickster, Contriver	PoikilomhthV Poikilomêtês Poecilometes Full of Various Wiles	PolutropoV Polytropos Polytropus Wily, Shifty, Many-Turning	PoneomenoV Poneomenos Poneomenus Busy One
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	BoufonoV Bouphonos Buphronus Slayer of Oxen	OiopoloV Oiopolos Oeopolus Sheep-Tending, Shepherd	DaiV 'EtairoV Dais Hetairos Daïs Hetaerus Comrade of the Feast	Carmophrwn Kharmophrôn Charmophron Glad-Hearted, Heart-Delighting
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	EriounhV Eriounês Eriounes Luck Bringing, Ready Helper	EuskopoV Euskopos Euscopus Keen-Sighted, Watchful	Dwtor Eawn Dôtor Eaôn Dotor Eaon Giver of Good Things	CaridwthV Kharidôtês Charidotes Giver of Joy
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	Akakhta Akakêta Acaceta Guileless, Gracious	KudimoV Kydimos Cydimus Glorious	ErikudhV Erikydês Ericydes Famous, Glorious, Splendid	AglaoV Aglaos Aglaus Splendid, Bright, Glorious
Greek Title: Transliteration: Latin Spelling: Translation:	KratuV Kratus Cratus Strong, Mighty	KrateroV Krateros Craterus Strong, Mighty

II) Other poetic epithets, used by the tragedians and others:

Greek Title:
Transliteration:
Latin Spelling:
Translation:

MasthrioV
Mastêrios
Masterius
Of Searchers

PompaioV
Pompaios
Pompaeus
The Guide

CULT TERMS OF HERMES

Some general terms relating to the god's cult include:

Greek Term:
Transliteration:
Latin Spelling:
Translation:

'Ermaion
Hermaion
Hermaeum
Temple of Hermes

'Ermaia
Hermaia
Hermaea
Games of Hermes

'Ermai
Hermai
Hermai
Pillar-Statues
of Hermes

"Mercurius [Hermes] explained [or created] the languages of men (whence he is called ‘ermeneutes’, ‘interpreter’, for Mercurius in Greek is called ‘Ermes’; he too, divided the nations)." - Hyginus, Fabulae 143

"Argeiphontes (Argos-Slayer): Hermes." - Suidas "Argeiphontes"

"Deilakrion (Poor fellow): Hermes was called [this], because he was greedy. For when pieces of meat were shown to him, he dug in right away." - Suidas "Deilakrion"

"Eriounios: Very useful. An epithet of Hermes." - Suidas "Eriounios"

Sources:

Homer, The Iliad - Greek Epic C9th-8th BC
The Homeric Hymns - Greek Epic C8th-4th BC
Pausanias, Guide to Greece - Greek Geography C2nd AD
Suidas - Byzantine Lexicographer C10th AD
Others, see Cult of Hermes page