Hermes was born to Zeus and the nymph Maia in a secluded cave on Mount Cyllene. Precocious from birth, he slipped out
of his cradle on the very day he was born, already scheming his first great trick against his own brother Apollo.
Hours after his birth, Hermes stole Apollo's sacred cattle, cleverly reversing their hoofprints to hide his trail. When
confronted, he charmed Apollo by gifting him a lyre he had just invented from a tortoise shell, turning a theft into a peace
offering and earning his place among the Olympians through wit rather than war.
As messenger of the gods, Hermes was entrusted with tasks no other god could accomplish, guiding souls to the underworld
and delivering Zeus's word across every corner of the world. His winged sandals and quick wit made him indispensable to
Olympus, a trickster whose cunning proved as valuable as any warrior's strength.