In Greek mythology, Hermes served as the messenger of the gods.
Hermes was the son of Zeus and the Pleiad Maia. He was associated with travel, trade, communication, boundaries, luck, deception, and heralds. His role as a messenger allowed him to move rapidly between the world of the gods, the human world, and the underworld.
Artists commonly identified Hermes by his winged sandals, called talaria, and his herald’s staff, the caduceus. The caduceus is often confused with the Rod of Asclepius, which has a single serpent and is the traditional medical symbol. In ancient mythology, Hermes’s staff represented his heraldic authority.
Hermes also guided souls to the underworld, a role known as psychopomp. His Roman equivalent was Mercury. Because he protected travelers and merchants, roadside boundary markers and marketplaces were among the places connected with his worship.