- "He was very proud of you. As we all are, brother."
- ―Hermes to Heron in War for Olympus.
Hermes is swiftest of the gods and acts as the messenger of Olympus.
History[]
Hermes is the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Maia, one of the Pleiades, a nymph and daughter of the Titan Atlas. He was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, one morning on the fourth day of the month, a day that was later sacred to him.
From the moment of his birth, Hermes displayed keen intelligence and great ingenuity. A few hours after his birth, he left his cradle and went to Apollo's herd. Along the way, he encountered a tortoise, which he killed and gutted to make a lyre, an instrument he used to celebrate his own birth.
That same day, Hermes stole fifty of Apollo's sacred oxen. To conceal his whereabouts, he walked backward, thus reversing his steps. He also invented the art of making fire by rubbing pieces of wood together. After sacrificing two of the oxen, he dedicates the meat to the twelve gods, but refrains from touching the sacrifice. He then returns to his mother, announcing his intention to take up the profession of thief.
When Apollo discovers the theft, he goes to Maia to confront Hermes. Hermes, feigning innocence, pretends to be a innocent newborn. The matter is brought before Zeus, who, amused by his son's precocity, orders a reconciliation. Hermes is to reveal where he hid the herd and charm Apollo by playing the lyre. Impressed, Apollo offers him in exchange a golden wand, the future caduceus, and the gift of minor prophecy.
Hermes is renowned for his cunning and ingenuity, qualities that distinguish him among the Olympian gods. He became the messenger of the gods, the guide of the souls of the deceased to the Underworld, and the protector of travelers, traders, and thieves. His versatile role and ability to navigate between the world of the gods and that of mortals made him a central figure in the Greek pantheon.
Throughout the Series[]
Season 1[]
A Call to Arms[]
Hermes partook in the Gigantomachy, and after Hephaestus forged a Cauldron to store the souls of the Giants, he briskly used it on the creatures.
The Raid[]
Hermes participates in a one-on-two match by assisting Apollo in his match against Ares. However, their match is interrupted by a furious Zeus who demands answers from Ares about his infidelity secret, but Hera appears, revealing that she already knew. As this goes on, Hermes watches Zeus and Hera interacting with each other alongside Apollo and Ares.
Hermes arrives immediately after Zeus and Hera finish speaking on their private balcony. As he passes by Hera, she curses him as another bastard child of his. He then informs Zeus that Heron's Polis is under attack, and Zeus orders him to clear the cloud cover.
Moving at supersonic speed, Hermes leaps from a mountaintop and from the air clears the cloud cover surrounding Polis.
A Monster is Born[]
Appearing before Elias as he places two coins over Electra's eyes, Hermes assures him that the more people suffer in life, the easier it is for them to pass on. Hermes then separates Electra's soul from her body, who awakens and realizes she's dead after seeing her body mid-air and her transparent body. Elias looks at Electra's soul, which was then placed into Hermes' horn flask, and zooms off after giving Elias a reassuring shoulder touch.
Reaching his destination, the River of Styx, Hermes takes Electra's soul out of his flask. After she views the periphery, Hermes blows the horn to summon the Ferryman Charon. In doing so, it attracts the attention of several Wraiths that astonish Electra. Once Charon arrives, his screams disperse the Wraiths; he then asks Hermes what soul he bears for him that day, and Hermes answers a most beloved and noble queen.
Before giving Charon Electra's fare for her ferry, Hermes warns Charon to treat her well or else thunder will strike his head. He then directs his attention to Electra and asks if she wants to see anyone before she crosses over.
Escape or Die[]
Reporting to Zeus, Hermes informs him that he saw Hera, the Demon Leader, Seraphim that morning while collecting a Demon's soul. He suspects that Hera was trying to sway the war to the Demons' side. At that moment, Seraphim accosts Heron's ship, and Zeus states that Hermes' appearance now isn't coincidental.
Back to Olympus[]
When Zeus and Heron arrive at Olympus, they're met by the Gods chastising them in a low tone, but Hermes, alongside Artemis and Apollo, welcomes Heron. He then stood by as Hera voiced her disdain at Zeus for bringing Heron to Olympus; however, Zeus claimed it was to make amends for the previous mistakes he had made on Earth.
After Hera leaves with most of the Gods that side with her, Zeus has Hermes follow her.
Eventually, Hermes meets with Zeus after Heron successfully defeats automation; he reports to him that Hera and the other Gods who sympathize with her have fled to the Underworld. When asked if Hades was conspiring with Hera, Hermes denies it, stating Hades remains neutral, but notes that any God who wishes can take refuge there. In Hermes' opinion, war was inevitable.
At that moment, a spider crawls onto Heron's right hand, and when he goes to squash it, Hermes stops him as the spider disintegrates into threads and disappears into the sky. Hermes then comments that the Fates were calling for Heron.
The Fields of the Dead[]
Hermes would follow Hera when she confronted Seraphim, and she'd soon cause Hermes to reveal himself and have Ares ambush him. Hera would take his bracer, and then Area would continue beating him with his hammer until Apollo came to his aid, allowing him to escape.
After Hera uses the Cauldron to return the Giants' souls to their bodies, Hermes approaches Zeus, claiming he has a message for him. As Zeus asks what the message is, Hermes then stabs him in the neck, only to be punched away by the real Hermes, revealing that it was Hera disguised as him as she escaped.
War for Olympus[]
Rushing to Zeus' side as he gasps and breathes for air, Hermes watches with the other Gods as Zeus cauterizes his wound shut with his lightning. He'd then, alongside Hephaestus, block Poseidon from entering any further into Olympus but was granted passage by Zeus, who allowed him to join his side.
Learning of the Cauldron's supposed location, Hermes volunteers to find and retrieve it, but Heron volunteers himself to go instead, as she wouldn't anticipate him going after it. The proposal perplexes Hermes, and he disagrees that a mortal should be the one to go on such an endeavor. Still, Zeus allows it, claiming Heron isn't a mortal; he's his son.
Hermes is later seen as the Giants, Demons, and Gods who sided with Hera close in on Olympus. When it begins, Hermes creates a cyclone that engulfs and kills several Demons.
He's later seen watching Heron ride his Griffin in an attempt to retrieve the Cauldron, and Seraphim rides his Manticore to cut him off.
When Seraphim retrieves the Cauldron, Hermes saves the dazed Ares, but is then attacked by a Giant. Hermes is seen again when Heron uses the Cauldron to reabsorb the souls into it.
The next day, Hephaestus stood by Apollo and Hermes as they greeted the newly awoken Heron from his slumber and Hermes commented that Zeus would be proud of him. Hermes further comments that his brothers and himself are proud of Heron too.
Season 2[]
In A Shadow Emerges, Hermes is seen fighting against Hera's forces and, after the war, transports Heron to Olympus.
In Funeral Games, Hermes appears before Artemis and Athena, startling them. Hestia then appears and asks if Poseidon really did propose a truce, which Hermes confirms.
He'd later deliver Zeus' soul down to the Underworld.
In Judgement Day, Hermes guides Zeus to the Underworld, where he pays Charon through the River of Styx. He'd later inform Heron and his group that the bodies they'd found were caused by Keres. Normally, they feast on the flesh of the dead, but since Zeus' death, they began eating the living. Furthermore, Hermes informs Evios that someone is acquainted with Evios, and Kofi is found on the island and takes his leave.
In The Hidden Realm, Hermes runs across the ocean and is alerted by the spores floating across the water. Upon trying to investigate it, he's incapacitated by said spores.
In The Three Trials, a malaised Hermes is awoken by Apollo, who helps him up and takes him to his chariot. As for the two's predicament, they blame it on Hera.
On Olympus, Athena talks to Hermes and Apollo, confirming that Zeus' bastard children have succumbed to his ailment worse off than those who were not. Athena then stepped on a root that Demeter was using to eavesdrop on their conversation and details that it wasn't Hera's fault for the outbreak, but Demeter's. Later, they all, including Hestia, confront Persephone, demanding to know where her mother is, and she refuses to tell, forcing them to accost her.
Afterward, at the challenge location, they all now, including Artemis and Hephaestus, arrive with a restrained Persephone. After negotiations break down between Hades and Ares, who are arguing with his army, and Hera fails to stop the conflict, a battle ensues between the three sides.
During the battle, Hermes manages to retrieve the stone for a brief time, but loses it. In the end, thanks to Hades fatally stabbing Heron, Gaia appears, chastising the Gods, and speaks Typhon's name, resurrecting him.
In A Champion's Challenge, Hermes delivers Hades' Bident back to the Underworld, where it's used to rescue both Zeus and Hades.
Physical Appearance[]
Like many of the male gods, Hermes has a tall, muscular, yet lean build. He has teal eyes and wears multiple gold accessories. He has a golden helmet that appears to have wings on it and wears winged boots. Similar to all the male gods, Hermes has a handsome face and a somewhat noticeable resemblance to Zeus. He has light brown hair, which is braided, and fair-toned skin similar to his father, Zeus. He has a medium-length hooded cape, which is shown to be half tan and half reflective. When collecting souls or going on stealth missions, Hermes wears his helmet and puts his hood on.
Personality[]
During the entire series, Hermes is seen as fully supporting his father, Zeus, before and during the Olympian Civil War. He even went to give Zeus specific information on Hera and Seraphim's conspiracy and even followed Hera to learn more about her plans.
He is also seemingly sympathetic toward his brother, being the first one to greet him when he first arrives on Olympus and even being there for Heron after the Olympian civil war, alongside Apollo and Hephaestus comforting him and even calling him "brother." Admiration and collaboration reflect the close bonds among the Olympian gods.
Powers and Abilities[]
Olympian Deity Physiology: Hermes possesses the conventional superhuman physical attributes of an Olympian god.
- Immortality: Like all the Greek gods, Hermes seems ageless, or at least extremely long-lived.
- Immense Speed: Hermes' primary power is his divine speed.[1] Hermes truly holds the potential of limitless speed, making him the swiftest of the gods. He is seen running at incredible speeds to deliver news, messages, or warnings. Though the exact limits of Hermes' speed are unknown, he can run at speeds of Mach 2 to Mach 4.6 (0.22-1.0 miles per second). Olympian God of Speed, Hermes, can reach warp speed as he can travel back and forth between the dimensional realms of Earth and Olympus.
- Immense Reflexes: Hermes' speed also extends to his reflexes, which enable him to deflect projectiles and block his opponents' blows with ease.
- Enhanced Leap: Hermes can jump longer or higher distances and above most trees commonly around.
- Accelerated Rotation: Hermes can move in circles really fast. He does that to create tornadoes.
- Immense Strength: Hermes seems to have an undefined level of divine strength, as seen when he punches Hera several feet away. The faster Hermes accelerates toward his specific destination, the more his mass increases, greatly enhancing the force behind his punches.
- Immense Durability: Hermes seems to have a high degree of superhuman durability, as seen in his fight against Hera and Ares, during which he endured a substantial beating from them.
- Immense Stamina: Hermes' highly advanced musculature produces no fatigue toxins, enabling him to sustain almost indefinitely.
- Accelerated Healing: Hermes can heal from injuries at an accelerated rate. However, depending on how severe his injuries are, some injuries he's sustained can heal in days, and others take longer.
Abilities[]
Master Combatant: Hermes is a formidable hand-to-hand combatant, particularly while using his speed in combat situations. He mastered several forms of unarmed combat, particularly wrestling. Swordsmanship: Hermes wielded a sword during his fight with Ares in the arena.
Equipment[]
- Winged Golden Helmet: Hermes wears a golden helmet with wings.
- Winged Shoes: Hermes wears winged sandals, which evidently can boost his natural speed and limited flight capabilities.
- Cape of Invisibility:[2] Through his cape, Hermes can render himself unseen to both humans and gods alike.
- Armband: Hermes' armband apparently is what allows him to collect souls so that he may guide them to the Underworld. As a psychopomp or "soul guide," Hermes was able to take the souls of the Giants and place them in the cauldron after they were slain during the Gigantomachy.
Relationships[]
Zeus[]
Hera[]
As Hermes is one of Zeus's many illegitimate children, Hera has a quiet disdain for him.
Ares[]
Hephaestus[]
Artemis[]
Apollo[]
Trivia[]
- Hermes was the messenger god in Greek Mythology. He is a protector of travelers, shepherds, and thieves. Hermes was born of Maia, a daughter of Atlas, by Zeus. He was born in a cave on Mount Cyllene. Hermes follows the archetype of the trickster. He was frequently portrayed as witty, charismatic, and a liar and thief.
- Hermes super-speed was influenced by director Shaunt Nigoghossian's previous work with The Flash.[3]
- Hermes is the only god seen in the show going from one place to another through physical running. Most of them choose often transporting by winged horse- drawn carriage. Or else self-flight or teleport.
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ War for Olympus
- ↑
Powerhouse Animation (@PowerhouseAnimation) on Twitter "We apologize for hiding Hermes behind his cape of invisibility, but we have to give props to our compositing team for developing all the special vfx for #BloodofZeus. Shout out to @wickitoons, @JudeMurro, and Jen Fields for enhancing our experience of this amazing show."
- ↑ NX (@NXOnNetflix) on Twitter "The artists at @powerhouseanim put so much effort into Blood of Zeus, here’s some of their incredible background work along with insights on the show’s production." (screenshot)
See also[]
| Blood of Zeus | |
|---|---|
| Characters | Heron • Zeus • Hera • Seraphim • Electra • Alexia • Evios • Kofi • Ariana • Hermes • Apollo • Ares • Poseidon • Hades |
| Species | Human • Demon • God • Titan • Giant • Wraith • Centaur |
| Items | Cauldron • Hades' Bident • Adamantium Sword |
| Location(s) | Olympus • Underworld • Corinth |
| Season 1 | (Episodes: A Call to Arms • Past is Prologue • The Raid • A Monster is Born • Escape or Die • Back to Olympus • The Fields of the Dead • War for Olympus) |
| Season 2 | (Episodes: A Shadow Emerges • Weights & Measures • Winter is Born • Funeral Games • Judgement Day • Crossing Paths • The Hidden Realm • The Three Trials) |
| Season 3 | (Episodes: A Breath Before Dying • Hades' Choice • Hellebore • Brothers' Journey • The Head of the Maenads • The Tower of the Winds • Land of the Dead • A Champion's Challenge) |