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Hermes
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<p>Hermes is an Olympian <a href="/facts/Deity/doCvhDHj">deity</a> in <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek_religion/AtzMTqvS">ancient Greek religion</a> and <a href="/facts/Greek_mythology/M7k4FvW8">mythology</a> considered the <a href="/facts/Herald/AItLs7F4">herald</a> of the gods. He is also widely considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, <a href="/facts/Theft/B2zvPLGA">thieves</a>, <a href="/facts/Merchant/bPb8WTBb">merchants</a>, and <a href="/facts/Orators/MQejeEC0">orators</a>. He is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine aided by his winged <a href="/facts/Sandal/F4503auG">sandals</a>. Hermes plays the role of the <a href="/facts/Psychopomp/jXt3SCpw">psychopomp</a> or "soul guide"—a conductor of souls into the <a href="/facts/Underworld/DaB7uJsa">afterlife</a>.: 179, 295 </p><p>In myth, Hermes functions as the <a href="/facts/Ambassador/hVpzsRdy">emissary</a> and messenger of the gods, and is often presented as the son of <a href="/facts/Zeus/9wTwkEDt">Zeus</a> and <a href="/facts/Maia/s2JLtR4c">Maia</a>, the <a href="/facts/Pleiades_(Greek_mythology)/77uExCU0">Pleiad</a>. He is regarded as "the divine trickster", about which the <i><a href="/facts/Homeric_Hymn/kP0wnS0T">Homeric Hymn to Hermes</a></i> offers the most well-known account. </p><p>Hermes's attributes and symbols include the <a href="/facts/Herma/sWj4BMIm">herma</a>, the <a href="/facts/Rooster/RD2eTd83">rooster</a>, the <a href="/facts/Tortoise/XWKByUCz">tortoise</a>, <a href="/facts/Wallet/RJlroKpG">satchel</a> or pouch, <a href="/facts/Talaria/QCUvTtdF">talaria</a> (winged sandals), and <a href="/facts/Winged_helmet/2svAyTtH">winged helmet</a> or simple <a href="/facts/Petasos/X0apbYU8">petasos</a>, as well as the <a href="/facts/Palm_tree/5bN6Wwcr">palm tree</a>, <a href="/facts/Goat/BrsPJmdX">goat</a>, the number four, several kinds of fish, and incense. However, his main symbol is the <i><a href="/facts/Caduceus/tkNWedNp">caduceus</a></i>, a winged staff intertwined with two snakes copulating and carvings of the other gods. </p><p>In <a href="/facts/Roman_mythology/sA0FnmbG">Roman mythology</a> and <a href="/facts/Religion_in_ancient_Rome/QrNwmgPM">religion</a> many of Hermes's characteristics belong to <a href="/facts/Mercury_(mythology)/2omXHvrY">Mercury</a>, a name derived from the Latin <i>merx</i>, meaning "merchandise", and the origin of the words "<i>mer</i>chant" and "com<i>merce</i>.": 178 </p>