Though Hermes--known to the Romans as Mercury--was one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek mythology, he was perhaps a bit of a black sheep among the rest of his family. Known for his mischievous nature and trickster ways, he prized cunning, humor, and cleverness, and he appreciated a good practical joke, often to his family's chagrin. The swiftest of the gods with his winged sandals, it often fell to Hermes to deliver messages from gods to mortals and to prompt heroes to fulfill their destinies. In his role as psychopomp, Hermes was one of the only gods to be able to seamlessly move between realms, and he personally escorted some of mythology's most famous souls to the underworld. A master of disguise, Hermes was the god of many things, and was considered a patron of merchants, travelers, shepherds, and thieves. Because of his role as messenger, Hermes often plays a bit part in some of mythology's most famous stories of wars and heroes.

In this course, we will put the spotlight on Hermes, and we'll discuss his birth and origins, his powers, and some of the many stories about him, including, but not limited to:  his theft of Apollo's cattle, his invention of the lyre, and his role in the story of Philemon and Baucis. [Please note that some of the other famous stories involving Hermes, such as the story of Argos the Giant, are discussed in detail in some of my other classes and will not be repeated here; please do not hesitate to contact me if you are curious about the classes in which these stories are shared.]

This course is the seventh in a series designed to spotlight each of the twelve major Olympian gods (the first and second being about Zeus and Hera, respectively, the third being about Athena, the fourth being about Aphrodite, the fifth being about Artemis, and the sixth being about Apollo). Such courses are meant to go beyond the basics to give learners a deeper understanding of each of the twelve major gods in the ancient Greek (and Roman!) pantheon. This course follows the format of my traditional symposium classes, and there is no prerequisite for this course.

As with my other symposium-style courses, this course is designed to feature some of the hallmarks of a true classical symposium. I may read excerpts from ancient Greek or Latin poetry, in keeping with the tradition of poetry recitation (please note:  any such readings are so that students can hear the language; this is not a language course, so language learning is not part of the class). Together as a class, we'll also read some short passages in English. From there, via around-the-campfire style storytelling, I will weave the larger stories around our topic of the day:  Hermes. This course will make use of slides to introduce new material and to provide visual representations of art and literature. Ongoing dialogue and conversation, questions directed to students from the teacher (and from students to the teacher!), and reading aloud are all part of this course (please note that students are free to listen OR to join in the reading; it is their choice, and there is no pressure to participate in this way); discussion and questions are not just welcomed, but encouraged! 

As food and drink were an important part of a symposium, we'll seek to recreate that with traditional symposium snacks (please see the supply list for more details!), and while the traditional wine isn't age appropriate, a more appropriate drink like water or juice is a suitable replacement. (Please note that students should not feel obligated to eat or drink if they do not wish to; the food is meant to enhance the experience, but it's far from necessary.)

A symposium was an occasion for people to gather together for entertainment and learning. This course is one of many symposium-style courses, with each course designed to feature a different topic. This course has no prerequisites, and it is ideal for learners who love mythology, who have a curiosity about the classical world, or who enjoy good stories. Let's sit down to a symposium together!