Thursday, September 3, 2009

Patron of boundaries and those who cross them

The role of Hermes is usually only said to be that of messenger. But he was "the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of thieves and road travelers, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of general commerce, and of the cunning of thieves and liars."

Hermes takes care of travellers, miscreants, harlots, old crones, thieves and athletes with injuries.

He is "an interpreter who bridges the boundaries with strangers".

He is a psychopomp. He wears sandals with wings (talaria) on them and uses them to fly freely between the mortal and immortal world and often helps travellers have a safe and easy journey.

I've struggled with an idea of a tattoo of a symbol of a Greek God or Goddess for some time. Never able to decide on one for the Goddess of discord, Eris, or the virgin hunter, Artemis. Or both. And which symbol.

So, I'm getting the wings of the talaria tattooed on my ankle until I can make up my mind about Eris and Artemis.

Feel free to contribute to the tattoo fund.


All info courtesy of Wikipedia.

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