07 Hermes and Hestia

Question 1

Anthesteria

Answer 1

An Athenian festival in honor of Dionysus in which Hermes escorted the souls of the dead back to the Underworld. (p. 294)

Question 2

Caduceus

Answer 2

Hermes’ wand, a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, that marks him as an inviolable messenger. (p. 295)

Question 3

Cyllene

Answer 3

One of the regions of Greece over which Hermes rules. (p. 304)

Question 4

Herm

Answer 4

A square stone pillar that features a head and an (oftentimes erect) phallus. (p. 295)

Question 5

Hermaion

Answer 5

A “lucky catch”, when a Greek fisherman pulled up his nets and found them filled with fish. (p. 298)

Question 6

Hermes’ hill

Answer 6

A pile of rocks, dedicated to Hermes, found at the sides of roads. (p. 295)

Question 7

Hestia

Answer 7

The first-born daughter of Cronus and Rhea and the keeper of the hearth in Greek homes. (p. 294)

Question 8

Mutilation of the herms

Answer 8

A notorious act of sacrilege (or of humorous vandalism) that took place on the night before the Athenian fleet was due to sail to Sicily in 415 BCE. (p. 300)

Question 9

Pan

Answer 9

The son of Hermes who causes “panic” to shepherds who tend their flocks far from home. (p. 300)