Page:Greek and Roman Mythology.djvu/51

THE GREEK GODS 37 times a manifold fructifying effect was really attributed to the wind. On this ground Hermes was regarded as god of shepherds (Nomios) and bestower of an abundance of flocks and herds (Epimelios) and, at the same time, of prosperity in general, an idea which again is con- nected with his significance as a god of fortune. It was because of this latter attribute that he was sup- posed to promote and foster money-making on land and sea. So merchants, whom he protected on their journeys, spread his worship everywhere, and especially carried it to Koine, where as Mercurius (' god of merchan- dise ') he was held in the highest esteem. 48. As the Harpies were considered goddesses of death, carrying off human beings, so Hermes Psychopompos (' soul-conductor ? ) guided into the lower world the souls (*l/vxrj = ' breath ') of the dead, which were conceived of as airy, or sometimes as like birds or bats. He was also thought to send visions, which are intimately associated with souls, and so became god of death and of sleep. As god of shepherds Hermes was worshiped in the country, particularly in Arcadia ; as god of commerce, in Athens and other commercial cities. In the former con- ception he carries, besides the above-mentioned symbols, a ram ; in the latter, especially in the imperial epoch, a purse. In the older art he is usually represented as a mature man with pointed beard, but in works of Ionic origin is often even then conceived of as a youth. Later this is his regular form ; he is then clothed with only a chlamys, or is almost entirely nude, as he appears in the splendid statue by Praxiteles found at Olympia. The child upon his arm is the young Dionysus, whom he is carrying to the nymphs to be nursed. (Of. 90.)