Honestly man, I got super curious about all the different names the Greeks called Hermes. You hear “Hermes” and you think speedy guy with wings on his sandals, right? But digging into it, turns out this dude had a ridiculous pile of titles. Like, way more than I expected. Felt like I needed to sort this out for myself.
Getting Started Was Messy
First thing? Hopped online, obviously. Typed in “Hermes ancient Greek names”. Boom β information overload. Every site and book seemed to have a different list, and some names sounded totally weird. Felt kinda overwhelmed, like trying to drink from a firehose. Closed all the tabs after about 20 minutes. Needed a better plan.
Deciding on My Approach
Took a step back. Grabbed a notebook and a pen β old school. Figured I wouldn’t try to find every single name ever. That seemed impossible. Instead, I’d focus on the big ones, the really common epithets and titles you actually bump into if you’re reading myths or even stuff about history. Wanted the ones that tell you something about what Hermes did or was like. Made a promise to myself: stick to the classics, skip the super obscure stuff nobody uses.
Digging Through the Lists
Went back online, slower this time. Hit some university mythology pages and scanned a couple of reputable mythology books I have on the shelf. Started making my own list:
- Argeiphontes: Saw this everywhere. Sounds intense? Yeah, means “Slayer of Argus.” Remember Argus Panoptes, the giant with a hundred eyes Zeus sent Hera to spy on Io? Hermes whacked him. That’s this title.
- Psychopompos: Kept popping up too. This one’s dark but important. Means “Guide of Souls” or “Soul Conductor.” Yeah, Hermes wasn’t just a delivery guy for messages; he escorted dead folks down to the Underworld.
- Dolios: This one made me chuckle. “The Crafty One” or “Tricky.” Fits perfectly with him being the god of thieves and clever plans. Found tons of stories backing this up.
- Eriounios: Took a bit longer to pin down. Seems to mean “Bringer of Luck” or “Fast Helper.” Sometimes linked to bringing gain or profit. Makes sense for a guy associated with commerce.
- Kydimos: A simpler one. “The Glorious” or “Illustrious.” Bit like calling him a big shot, highlighting his divine status.
- Chthonios: This got me thinking. “Of the Earth/Underworld.” Ties back to that Psychopompos role, him moving between worlds, connecting the upper and lower.
- Agoraios: Pretty straightforward. “Of the Marketplace.” God of trade, merchants, bargaining… obviously hangs out at the market.
Kept finding more, like Hodios (Protector of Travelers), Angelos (Messenger), and Oneiropompos (Guide of Dreams). Each one clicked when I connected it to a specific story or area of life.
The Big Realization
After scribbling down maybe fifteen of these main ones, it hit me. Itβs not that Hermes just has many names; each nickname is like a different tool in his belt. Need a guide for the dead? Call him Psychopompos. Want luck in your business deal? That’s Eriounios. Need some clever trickery? Dolios has your back. Suddenly, he wasn’t just “the messenger” anymore; he was this insanely versatile figure showing up everywhere life needed cunning, movement, or connection.
Honestly, man, doing this really made Hermes way more interesting than just the winged sandal guy. The Greeks weren’t messing around β they gave him titles for every darn thing he did!