List of Battle Arena Toshinden characters and Hermes: Difference between pages

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Difference between pages)
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Ross-1989 (talk | contribs)
675 edits
 
other names for him
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Otheruses}}
{{Primarysources|date=October 2008}}
{{Infobox Greek deity|
| Image = Hermes-louvre3.jpg
| Caption = ''[[Hermes Fastening his Sandal]]'', Roman marble copy of a [[Lysippus|Lysippan]] bronze ([[Louvre Museum]])
| Name = Hermes
| God_of = '''Messenger of the gods''' <br/>'''God of boundaries, [[shepherd]]s, [[cowherd]]s, [[thievery]], [[traveller]]s, [[invention]], general [[commerce]] and [[literature]]'''
| Abode = [[Mount Olympus]]
| Symbol = [[Caduceus]], winged sandals, [[tortoise]], [[rooster]]
| Consort =
| Parents = [[Zeus]] and [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]]
| Siblings=
| Children= [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]], [[Hermaphroditus]], [[Eros]], [[Tyche]], [[Abderus]], [[Autolycus]]
| Mount =
| Roman_equivalent = [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]
}}


'''Hermes''' ([[Ancient Greek|Greek]], {{polytonic|Ἑρμῆς}}, {{IPAEng|ˈhɝmiːz}}), in [[Greek mythology]], is the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian god]] of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of [[shepherd]]s and [[cowherd]]s, of thieves and road travelers, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of general commerce, and of the cunning of thieves and liars.<ref>W. Burkert, ''Greek Religion'' 1985 section III.2.8; [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/h/hermes.html "Hermes."] ''Encyclopedia Mythica'' from Encyclopedia Mythica Online. Retrieved October 04, 2006.</ref> His symbols include the tortoise, the rooster, the winged sandals, and the [[caduceus]]. The analogous Roman deity is [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]].
{{TOCright|limit=2}}
The following list contains descriptions of the [[fictional character]]s featured in the [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[weapon]]s-based [[versus fighting game|fighting]] game series '''''Battle Arena Toshinden''''', developed by [[Tamsoft]] and produced by [[Takara]].


The [[Homeric hymn]] to Hermes invokes him as the one "of many shifts (''polytropos''), blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods."<ref>''Hymn to Hermes'' 13. The word ''polutropos'' ("of many shifts, turning many ways, of many devices, ingenious, or much wandering") is also used to describe Odysseus in the first line of the ''Odyssey''.</ref>
==Abel==
[[Image:StatueHermesAlamedaCentralMexico.JPG|thumb|250px|right|[[Giambologna]]'s ''Mercury'' in fountain of the Alameda Central, [[Mexico City]].]]
'''Abel''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable boss. He is the only character in the series who does not use a weapon and instead fights using his bare fists.


He is the leader of the Organization, a rival group of the Secret Society. He has a large number of followers, including assassins trained in the fighting styles of the fighters who had participated in the last two Toshinden tournaments. He intended to revive an ancient god of fighting named Agon Teos, in order to rule over the world with it. However, he required the blood of the aforementioned fighters in order to awaken it and the body of a purehearted boy to give it a vessel.


==Etymology==
For the human body, Abel chose [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#David|David]] and ordered an assassination on his parents. He then attempted to capture him, but he escaped and was rescued by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Shizuku Fuji|Shizuku Fuji]]. To lure David and the fighters, Abel hosted the third Toshinden tournament. However, during the event, he was eventually confronted by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]], who managed to kill him and destroy the Organization.
The name ''Hermes'' has been thought, ever since [[Karl Otfried Müller]]'s demonstration,<ref>K.O. Müller, ''Handbuch der Archäologie'' 1848.</ref> to be derived from the Greek word ''[[herma]]'' (''{{polytonic|ἕρμα}}''), which denotes a square or rectangular pillar with the head of Hermes (usually with a beard) adorning the top of the pillar, and ithyphallic male genitals below; however, due to the god's attestation in the Mycenaean pantheon, as ''Hermes Araoia'' ("Ram Hermes") in [[Linear B]] inscriptions in [[Pylos]] and Mycenaean [[Knossos]] (Ventris and Chadwick), the connection is more likely to have moved the opposite way, ''from'' deity ''to'' pillar representations. From the subsequent association of these cairns &mdash; which were used in [[Athens]] to ward off evil and also as road and [[boundary marker]]s all over Greece &mdash; Hermes acquired patronage over land travel. Hermes was a messenger for Zeus. The reason for this was not only was he the fastest god but he was also loyal to his father, Zeus. Hermes is an olympian god and herald to the gods. He is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is known for gymnasium, roads, hospitality, astronomy, astrology, and and animals of husbandry. When he was little, he made the first lyre from an tortoise shell. Hermes was born in Arcadia.


==Epithets of Hermes==
==Adam==
===Argeiphontes===
*Weapon: [[Cannon]]
Hermes' [[epithet]] ''Argeiphontes'' (Latin ''Argicida''), or Argus-slayer, recalls his slaying of the hundred eyed giant [[Argus Panoptes]], who was watching over the [[cattle|heifer]]-nymph [[Io (mythology)|Io]] in the sanctuary of Queen [[Hera]] herself in Argos. Putting Argus to sleep, Hermes used a spell to permanently close all of Argus' eyes and then slew the giant. Argus' eyes were then put into the tail of the peacock, symbol of the goddess Hera.


'''Adam''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Rungo Iron|Rungo Iron]]'''.


He is a robot, who, although being made of metal rather than flesh and blood, fell in love with a human. He began serving the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament, in hopes of having the chance to become a human being.


===Other===
==Atahua==
Other epithets included:
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Peru}} [[Peru]]
*''[[Agoraeus]]'', of the [[agora]]<ref name=lang>{{cite book |author=Mabel Lang |authorlink=Mabel Lang |title=Graffiti in the Athenian Agora |url=http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/publications/upload/Graffiti%20in%20the%20Athenian%20AgoraLR.pdf |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |accessdate=2007-04-14 |edition=rev. ed. |series=Excavations of the Athenian Agora |year=1988 |publisher=American School of Classical Studies at Athens |location=Princeton, NJ |isbn=87661-633-3 |pages=[http://www.ascsa.edu.gr/publications/upload/Graffiti%20in%20the%20Athenian%20AgoraLR.pdf#page=9 p. 7] }}</ref>
*Weapon: Twin [[blowgun]]s
*''Acacesius'', of [[Acacus]]
*''Charidotes'', giver of charm
*''Criophorus'', ram-bearer
*''Cyllenius'', born on [[Mount Cyllene]]
*''Diaktoros'', the messenger
*''Dolios'', the schemer
*''Enagonios'', lord of contests
*''Enodios'', on the road
*''Epimelius'', keeper of flocks
*''Eriounios'', luck bringer
*''Polygius''
*''Psychopompos'', conveyor of souls


==Cult==
'''Atahua''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Ellis|Ellis]]''', with a similar moveset to her.
:''General article: [[Cult (religion)]]''.
Though temples to Hermes existed throughout [[Greece]], a major center of his cult was at [[Pheneos]] in [[Arcadia]], where festivals in his honor were called ''[[Hermoea (festival)|Hermoea]]''.


As a crosser of boundaries, ''Hermes Psychopompos''' ("conductor of the soul") was a [[psychopomp]], meaning he brought newly-dead souls to the [[Underworld]] and [[Hades]]. In the Homeric ''Hymn to Demeter'', Hermes conducted [[Persephone]] the Kore (young girl or virgin), safely back to [[Demeter]]. He also brought dreams to living mortals.
He is the descendant of an ancient empire, and is determined to revive his imperial inheritance through any means necessary. Along with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Tau|Tau]], he joined the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament for this reason.


Among the [[Greeks|Hellene]]s, as the related word ''[[herma]]'' ("a boundary stone, crossing point") would suggest, Hermes embodied the spirit of crossing-over: He was seen to be manifest in any kind of interchange, transfer, transgressions, transcendence, transition, transit or traversal, all of which involve some form of crossing in some sense. This explains his connection with transitions in one’s fortune -- with the interchanges of goods, words and information involved in trade, interpretation, oration, writing -- with the way in which the wind may transfer objects from one place to another, and with the transition to the afterlife.
==Balga==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]]
*Weapon: [[Longsword]] and [[shield]]


[[Image:Mercurybyhendrickgoltzius.jpeg|thumb|left|200px|''Mercury'' by [[Hendrick Goltzius]], 1611 (Frans Halsmuseum, Haarlem)]]
'''Balga''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Duke B. Rambert|Duke B. Rambert]]''', with a similar moveset to him, although he has the ability to kick.
Many graffito dedications to Hermes have been found in the [[Ancient Agora of Athens|Athenian Agora]], in keeping with his epithet of ''[[#Others|Agoraios]]'' and his role as patron of commerce.<ref name=lang/>


Originally, Hermes was depicted as an older, bearded, phallic god, but in the 6th century BCE, the traditional Hermes was reimagined as an athletic youth (''illustration, top right''). Statues of the new type of Hermes stood at stadiums and [[gymnasium (ancient Greece)|gymnasiums]] throughout Greece.
He is the descendant of a family committed to the destruction of the Rambert bloodline. He joined the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament in order to eliminate his rival Duke, as well as his companions.


==Bang-Boo==
===Hermai/Herms===
{{main|Herma}}
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Cuba}} [[Cuba]]
In very Ancient Greece, Hermes was a phallic god of boundaries. His name, in the form ''[[herma]],'' was applied to a wayside marker pile of stones; each traveller added a stone to the pile. In the 6th century BCE, [[Hipparchus (tyrant)|Hipparchos]], the son of [[Peisistratos (Athens)|Pisistratus]], replaced the [[cairn]]s that marked the midway point between each village ''[[deme]]'' at the central ''[[agora]]'' of Athens with a square or rectangular pillar of stone or bronze topped by a bust of Hermes with a [[beard]]. An erect [[phallus]] rose from the base. In the more primitive [[Mount Kyllini]] or [[Cyllenian herms]], the standing stone or wooden pillar was simply a carved phallus. In Athens, herms were placed outside houses for good luck. "That a monument of this kind could be transformed into an [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian]] god is astounding," [[Walter Burkert]] remarked (Burkert 1985).
*Weapon: Twin [[cannon]]s


In [[415 BCE]], when the Athenian fleet was about to set sail for [[Syracuse, Italy|Syracuse]] during the [[Peloponnesian War]], all of the Athenian hermai were vandalized. The Athenians at the time believed it was the work of saboteurs, either from Syracuse or from the anti-war faction within Athens itself. [[Socrates]]' pupil [[Alcibiades]] was suspected to have been involved, and Socrates indirectly paid for the impiety with his life.
'''Bang-Boo''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.


From these origins, [[hermai]] moved into the repertory of Classical architecture.
He is a [[cyborg]] who was created by the Gerard Foundation, a criminal organization, as an instrument of war. He was eventually given orders to enter the fourth Toshinden tournament as part of [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Genma|Genma]]'s team. He was also commanded that if Genma managed to gather all of the Four Sacred Arms, he would then need to be assassinated.


===Hermes' iconography===
==Bayhou==
[[Image:BayhouBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Bayhou's portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|China}} [[China]]
*Weapon: Iron claws


[[Image:Rude-mercury.jpg|thumb|right|180px|Hermes with ''petasus'', ''talaria'' and ''caduceus'': ''Mercury fastening his sandals'', by [[François Rude]], ([[Musée du Louvre]])]]
'''Bayhou''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an initially playable character. Along with his counterpart '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Cuiling|Cuiling]]''', he takes over '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Fo Fai|Fo Fai]]''''s role as the claw wielder.
Hermes was usually portrayed wearing a broad-brimmed traveler's hat or a winged cap (''[[petasus]]''), wearing winged sandals (''[[talaria]]''), and carrying his Near Eastern herald's staff -- either a ''[[caduceus]]'' entwined by [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpents]], or a ''kerykeion'' topped with a symbol similar to the [[astrological]] symbol of [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]] the bull. Hermes wore the garments of a traveler, worker, or shepherd. He was represented by purses or bags, roosters (''illustration, left''), and tortoises. When depicted as [[Hermes Logios (sculpture)|Hermes Logios]], he was the divine symbol of eloquence, generally shown speaking with one arm raised for emphasis.


==Birth==
He is a [[primate]]-like creature who lives simply by his animalistic instincts. He was eventually visited by Fo Fai, who passed down his iron claws to him and trained him in his fighting style. After being targeted by the Organization, Bayhou enters the third Toshinden tournament.
Hermes was born in [[Mount Kyllini|Mount Cyllene]] in [[Arcadia]] to [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]]. As the story is told in the [[Homeric Hymns|Homeric Hymn]], the ''Hymn to Hermes,'' [[Maia (mythology)|Maia]] was a [[nymph]], but Greeks generally applied the name to a midwife or a wise and gentle old woman; so the nymph appears to have been an ancient one, or more probably a goddess. At any rate, she was one of the [[Pleiades (mythology)|Pleiades]], daughters of Atlas, taking refuge in a cave of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.


The infant Hermes was precocious. His first day he invented the [[lyre]]. By nightfall, he had rustled the immortal cattle of Apollo. For the first sacrifice, the taboos surrounding the sacred [[wiktionary:kine|kine]] of Apollo had to be transgressed, and the trickster god of boundaries was the one to do it.
==Chaos==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka]]
*Weapon: [[Scythe]] and [[Black Tortoise|Genbu]] [[shield]]


Hermes drove the cattle back to Greece and hid them, and covered their tracks. When Apollo accused Hermes, Maia said that it could not be him because he was with her the whole night. However, Zeus entered the argument and said that Hermes did steal the cattle and they should be returned. While arguing with Apollo, Hermes began to play his [[lyre]]. The instrument enchanted Apollo and he agreed to let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.
'''Chaos''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as an initially playable character in both ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'' and the Japan-only spin-off [[puzzle game]] ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden''.


==Hermes' offspring==
He is one of the executives of the Secret Society, a criminal organization, sharing equal footing with three other elite members, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Cupido|Cupido]], [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]]. In her bids to assume even more power, Uranus suggested Chaos be the [[Human experimentation|test subject]] in an experiment to artificially augment the human body and brain. While his fighting skills were enhanced, the experience drove him [[insane]] and caused him to lose all his memories.
===Pan===
The [[satyr]]-like Greek god of nature, shepherds and flocks, [[Pan (mythology)|Pan]] was often said to be the son of Hermes through the nymph [[Dryope]]. In the [[Homeric Hymn]] to Pan, Pan's mother ran away from the newborn god in fright from his goat-like appearance.


===Hera===
However, his position in the organization was still held. When Gaia illegally held his own Toshinden tournament, Uranus declared him a traitor and persuaded Chaos to assassinate him. However, Gaia survived Chaos' ambush and joined forces with the fighters he had previously battled, eventually destroying the Secret Society. Chaos then participated in the third tournament.
[[Hermaphroditus]] was an immortal son of Hermes through [[Aphrodite]]. He was changed into an [[intersex]] person when the gods literally granted the nymph [[Salmacis]]' wish that they never separate.


===Priapus===
In ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Genma|Genma]] possesses the shield once carried by Chaos, indicating a high probability that he was killed by him.
The god [[Priapus]] was a son of Hermes and Aphrodite. In Priapus, Hermes' phallic origins survived.
According to other sources, Priapus was a son of Dionysus and Aphrodite


==Cuiling==
===Zues===
According to some sources, the mischievous winged god of love [[Eros]], son of Aphrodite, was sired by Hermes, though the gods [[Ares]] and [[Hephaestus]] were also among those said to be the sire, whereas in the [[Theogeny]], [[Hesiod]] claims that Eros was born of nothing before the Gods. Eros' Roman name was [[Cupid]].
[[Image:CuilingBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Cuiling's portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} [[Hong Kong]]
*Weapon: Iron claws


===Tyche===
'''Cuiling''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Bayhou|Bayhou]]''', with a similar moveset to him and '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Fo Fai|Fo Fai]]'''. She also appeared in the Japan-only spin-off [[trading card game]] ''Toshinden Card Quest'', as a playable character.
The goddess of [[luck]], Tyche ([[Greek language|Greek]] ''{{polytonic|Τύχη}}''), or [[Fortuna (mythology)|Fortuna]], was sometimes said to be the daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite.


===Abderus===
She is a girl who was raised from early childhood as an assassin by a [[Triad (underground societies)|triad]]. She infiltrates the third Toshinden tournament and participates in it.
[[Abderus]] was a son of Hermes who was devoured by the [[Mares of Diomedes]]. He had gone to the Mares with his friend [[Heracles]].


==Cupido==
===Autolycus===
[[Autolycus]], the Prince of Thieves, was a son of Hermes and grandfather of [[Odysseus]].
*Weapon: [[Halberd]]


===List of Hermes' consorts and children===
'''Cupido''' made her first and only appearance in the series in the [[Sega Saturn]] version of ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as one of the unlockable final bosses. She does not appear, however, in the original [[PlayStation]] version.
<div style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
#[[Aglaurus]] Athenian priestess
##[[Eumolpus]] warlord
#[[Antianeira]] Malian princess
##[[Echion (Argonaut)|Echion]] Argonaut
#[[Apemosyne]] Cretan princess
#[[Aphrodite]]
##[[Eros (mythology)|Eros]] (in one tradition)
##
##[[Hermaphroditus]]
##[[Peitho]]
##[[Priapus]] (in some traditions)
##[[Rhodos]]
##[[Tyche]]
#[[Carmentis]] Arcadian nymph
##[[Evander]] founder of Latium
#[[Chione]] Phocian princess
##[[Autolycus]] thief
#[[Dryope]] Arcadian nymph
##[[Pan (mythology)|Pan]] rustic god
#Eupolomia Phthian princess
##[[Aethalides]] Argonaut herald
#[[Herse]] Athenian priestess
##[[Cephalus]] hunter
##(Also [[Ceryx]])
#[[Krokus (mythology)|Crocus]] who died and became the crocus flower
#[[Pandrosus]] Athenian priestess
##[[Ceryx]] Eleusinian herald
#[[Peitho]] ("Persuasion" his wife according to [[Nonnos]])
#[[Penelope]] Arcadian nymph (or wife of Odysseus)
##[[Pan (mythology)|Pan]] (according to one tradition)
#[[Persephone]] (according to one tradition)
#[[Polymele]] (daughter of Phylas according to Iliad)
##[[Eudorus]] (myrmidon; soldier in Trojan War)
#[[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[nymph]]
##[[Daphnis]] rustic poet
#Theobula Eleian princess
##[[Myrtilus]] charioteer
# Born of the urine of Hermes, Poseidon and Zeus
##[[Orion (mythology)|Orion]] giant hunter (in one tradition)
#Unknown mothers
##[[Abderus]] squire of Heracles
</div>


==Hermes in the myths==
She is a member of the Secret Society, a criminal organization. She is also the sister of Ripper, a playable character in the Sega Saturn version of [[Battle Arena Toshinden 2|the second game]]. She is highly aware of many characters' pasts and personal affairs and offers them cryptic advice upon defeat. She is also known to have had a relationship with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho Shinjo]] and is [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Subaru Shinjo|Subaru]]'s mother.
===The ''Iliad''===
In [[Homer]]'s ''Iliad'', Hermes helps King [[Priam]] of [[Troy]] ([[Troy|Ilium]]) sneak into the [[Achaean]] (Greek) encampment to confront [[Achilles]] and convince him to return [[Hector]]'s body.


The body of Sarpedon is carried away from the battlefield of Troy by the twin winged gods, Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death). The pair are depicted clothed in armour, and are overseen by Hermes Psykhopompos (Guide of the Dead). The scene appears in book 16 of Homer's Iliad:
==David==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|England}} [[England]]
*Weapon: [[Chainsaw]] and [[handgun]]


"[Apollon] gave him [the dead Sarpedon] into the charge of swift messengers to carry him, of Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), who are twin brothers, and these two presently laid him down within the rich countryside of broad Lykia." - Homer, Iliad 16.681
'''David''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as a playable character in the Japan-only spin-off [[trading card game]] ''Toshinden Card Quest''.


===''The Odyssey''===
Before the third Toshinden tournament was held, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Abel|Abel]], the leader of the Organization, had ordered an assassination on David's parents and then decided to use his body as the vessel in a ritual to revive a fighting god named Agon Teos. However, David escaped and was rescued by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Shizuku Fuji|Shizuku Fuji]]. Together, they joined the rest of the participating fighters in the third tournament to help bring down the Organization and avenge his parents’ death.
In book 5, Hermes is sent to demand from [[Calypso (mythology)|Calypso]] Odysseus's release from the island of [[Aeaea]]; in book 10, he protects Odysseus from [[Circe]] by bestowing upon him a herb, [[moly]], which protects him from her soporific spell. [[Hermes]] also appears in book 24, where he plays the role of [[Psychopompos]] and leads the freshly slain suitors and disloyal maids to the underworld.
[[Odysseus]], the main character of the ''Odyssey'', is of [[matrilineal]] descent from Hermes.<ref name="Meletinskii93p131">[[Meletinskii]] 1993, ''Introduzione'', p. 131</ref>


==Duke B. Rambert==
===Perseus===
Hermes aided [[Perseus]] in killing the [[gorgon]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|France}} [[France]]
(Medusa) by giving Perseus his winged sandals and [[Zeus]]' [[sickle]]. He also gave Perseus Hades' helmet of invisibility and told him to use it so that Medusa's immortal sisters could not see him. [[Athena]] helped Perseus as well by lending him her polished shield. Hermes also guided Perseus to the Underworld.
*Weapon: [[Longsword]]


===Zues===
'''Duke B. Rambert''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]'' and the Japan-only spin-offs ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden'' and ''Toshinden Card Quest''. His entire moveset consists of slashing attacks and he does not use any kicks, unlike his counterpart in the third game, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Balga|Balga]].
In the ancient play [[Prometheus Bound]], attributed to [[Aeschylus]], Zeus sends Hermes to confront the enchained Titan Prometheus about a prophecy of the Titan's that Zeus would be overthrown. Hermes scolds Prometheus for being unreasonable and willing to endure torture, but Prometheus refuses to give him details about the prophecy.


===Herse/Aglaurus/Pandrosus===
He is a [[nobleman]] and [[knight]], who entered the first Toshinden tournament for revenge against [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]], who had defeated him in a fight previously. However, when he lost once again, he left the tournament and eventually found a girlfriend. He entered the second tournament after his girlfriend had abandoned him and joined the Secret Society, now going by the name [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]]. However, before he had a chance to confront her, he learned she had already been killed. Duke then entered the third tournament when he learned he was being targeted by the Organization and he set out to help destroy it.
When Hermes loved [[Herse]], one of three sisters who served [[Athena]] as priestesses or [[parthenos]], her jealous older sister [[Aglaurus]] stood between them. Hermes changed Aglaurus to stone. Hermes then impregnated Aglaurus while she was stone. [[Cephalus]] was the son of Hermes and [[Herse]]. Hermes had another son, [[Zues]], who was said to be the offspring of either Herse or Herse's other sister, [[Pandrosus]]. With [[Aglaurus]], Hermes was the father of [[Eumolpus]].


==Eiji Shinjo==
===Other stories===
In the story of the musician [[Orpheus]], Hermes brought [[Eurydice]] back to Hades after Orpheus failed to bring her back to life when he looked back toward her after Hades told him not to.
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[White Tiger (Chinese constellation)|Byakko]] [[katana]]


Hermes helped to protect the infant god [[Dionysus]] from [[Hera]], after Hera destroyed Dionysus' mortal mother [[Semele]] through her jealousy that Semele had conceived an immortal son of Zeus.
'''Eiji Shinjo''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'' as an initially playable character and from then on appeared in all later games, including the spin-offs released only in Japan. He also makes a guest appearance in another fighting game produced by Takara, ''[[D-Xhird]]'', as a hidden, playable character.


Hermes changed the [[Minyades]] into bats.
He is an [[adventurer]] who was trained in swordfighting, along with his friend [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Kayin Amoh|Kayin Amoh]], by his older brother [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho]]. However, Sho suddenly abandoned the pair. Eiji then entered the first two Toshinden tournaments in hopes of finding his lost brother, to no avail. However, when he learned he was being targeted by the Organization, he entered the third tournament hosted by it and was finally reunited with Sho. With the help of the other fighters, he managed to destroy the Organization and its leader [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Abel|Abel]].


Hermes learned from the [[Thriae]] the arts of fortune-telling and divination.
Afterwards, Eiji trained Sho's son [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Subaru Shinjo|Subaru]] in swordfighting and eventually passed down his katana to him. He was then offered to become the leader of a new criminal organization named the Gerard Foundation. He accepted, hoping to dismantle it from within. With the help of the altered humans [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eos|Eos]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Zero|Zero]], he participated in the fourth tournament to gather the Four Sacred Arms; powerful, mystical weapons based on the [[Four Symbols (Chinese constellation)|Four Symbols]] of the Chinese constellations.


When the gods created [[Pandora]], it was Hermes who brought her to mortals and bestowed upon her a strong sense of curiosity.
==Ellis==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Turkey]]
[[Image:EllisBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Ellis' portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Weapon: Twin [[dirk]]s


King [[Atreus]] of [[Mycenae]] retook the throne from his brother [[Thyestes]] using advice he received from the trickster Hermes. Thyestes agreed to give the kingdom back when the sun moved backwards in the sky, a feat that [[Zeus]] accomplished. Atreus retook the throne and banished Thyestes.
'''Ellis''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. She also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]'' and the Japan-only spin-offs ''[[Battle Arena Nitoshinden]]'', ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden'' and ''Toshinden Card Quest''.


[[Diogenes of Sinope|Diogenes]], speaking in jest, related the myth of Hermes taking pity on his son Pan, who was pining for Echo but unable to get a hold of her, and teaching him the trick of [[masturbation]] to relieve his suffering. Pan later taught the habit to shepherds.<ref>[[Dio Chrysostom]], ''Discourses,'' vi.20</ref>
She was raised by a troupe of traveling [[minstrels]], being told that her parents had died when she was a baby. She entered the first Toshinden tournament after hearing of rumors that her father was still alive and would also be participating. However, all she discovered was that the tournament had been held illegally by a man from the Secret Society named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]].


[[Battus]], a shepherd from Pylos, witnessed Hermes stealing Apollo's cattle. Though he promised his silence, he told many others. Hermes turned him to stone.
However, she eventually learned that Gaia was her real father and received an invitation to the second tournament. The invitation also revealed that Gaia had been targeted for death for holding the first tournament by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]], one of his co-workers from the Secret Society. Although Ellis felt no emotions towards Gaia, she entered the second tournament to help him. She was eventually reunited with him and at the end of the tournament learned Uranus and the Secret Society had been destroyed. When the third tournament, hosted by the Organization, was announced, Ellis and Gaia learned they were being targeted by the Organization. They both entered the tournament, in order to help bring down the Organization.


==Hermes in classical art==
==Eos==
{{main|:Category:Hermes types}}
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Italy]]
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
*Weapon: [[Azure Dragon|Seiryu]] [[spear]]


==Pop Culture==
'''Eos''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as one of the unlockable bosses.
*Hermes bestowes the gift of super speed to [[Wonder Woman]] in her origin story.
*The winged sandal of Hermes is used as the icon of the [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company]].


==Notes==
She is a [[biotechnological]]ly altered human of the Gerard Foundation, a criminal organization. Eventually, she was sealed off by the Gerard Foundation, who considered her powers a threat. Years later, however, she was found by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]], who had become the new leader of the organization. She managed to break free and she joined Eiji in the fourth Toshinden tournament in his search for the Four Sacred Arms.
{{reflist|2}}
==References==
{{Commonscat|Hermes}}
*[[Burkert, Walter|Walter Burkert]], 1985. ''Greek Religion'' (Harvard University Press)
*[[Karl Kerenyi|Kerenyi, Karl]], 1944. ''Hermes der Seelenführer''.
*Ventris, Michael and Chadwick, John (1956). ''Documents in Mycenaean Greek.'' Second edition (1974). (Cambridge UP) ISBN 0-521-08558-6.
*[[Eleazar M. Meletinskii|Meletinskii, Eleazar M.]] 1986, ''Vvedenie v istoričeskuû poétiku éposa i romana''. Moscow, Nauka.{{ru icon}}
**Introduzione alla poetica storica dell'epos e del romanzo (1993) {{it icon}}


==Fo Fai==
==External links==
*[http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Hermes.html Theoi Project, Hermes] stories from original sources & images from classical art
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|China}} [[China]]
*[http://www.theoi.com/Cult/HermesCult.html Cult & Statues of Hermes]
*Weapon: Iron claws
*[http://www.men-myths-minds.com/Hermes-greek-god.html The Myths of Hermes]
*[http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/mycen.html Ventris and Chadwick: Gods found in Mycenaean Greece]: a table drawn up from Michael Ventris and John Chadwick, ''Documents in Mycenaean Greek'' second edition (Cambridge 1973)


{{Greek myth (Olympian)2}}
'''Fo Fai''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]''.


[[Category:Hermes| ]]
He is an ancient, bloodthirsty [[Magician (fantasy)|magician]] and assassin, who participated in the first two Toshinden tournaments. Afterwards, he visited [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Bayhou|Bayhou]]. He passed down his iron claws to the creature and trained him in his fighting style.
[[Category:Greek gods]]
[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Twelve Olympians]]
[[Category:Commerce gods]]
[[Category:Trickster gods]]
[[Category:Death gods]]
[[Category:Animal gods]]
[[Category:Agricultural gods]]
[[Category:Offspring of Zeus]]
[[Category:Deities in the Iliad]]
[[Category:Messenger gods]]


[[af:Hermes]]
It is believed that Fo was then killed by Bayhou, since he carries a skull on his back that resembles the shape of Fo’s head and also because Fo's model used as a hidden outfit for Bayhou depicts him as a [[zombie]] with a bloody claw mark on his back.
[[ar:هيرميز]]

[[az:Hermes]]
==Fen Barefoot==
[[bn:হার্মিস]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]
[[bs:Hermes]]
*Weapon: [[Harpoon]]
[[br:Hermes]]

[[bg:Хермес]]
'''Fen Barefoot''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.
[[ca:Hermes]]

[[cs:Hermés]]
He was taken in by his grandfather after the death of his parents and the two made a living by fishing. One day, Fen encountered [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Mondo|Mondo]], who had been injured. He and his grandfather tended to his wounds and in return, Mondo taught Fen some techniques in spearfighting. When he left, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Genma|Genma]] visited Fen's home. He knew of Mondo's stay and demanded his whereabouts. When his grandfather told him he was no longer present, Genma killed him. Fen then formed a team with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Puella Marionette|Puella Marionette]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Lancelot Lakeknight|Lancelot Lakeknight]] and entered the fourth Toshinden tournament to take revenge on Genma, who was also participating.
[[da:Hermes]]

[[de:Hermes]]
==Gaia==
[[et:Hermes]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
[[el:Ερμής (μυθολογία)]]
*Weapon: Large [[broadsword]]
[[es:Hermes]]

[[eo:Hermeso]]
'''Gaia''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as one of the unlockable final bosses. He then appeared as an initially playable character in both ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'' and ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]''.
[[fa:هرمس]]

[[fr:Hermès]]
He was a member of the Secret Society; a criminal organization that sponsored the Toshinden tournaments. However, when one of his co-workers, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]], learned that he had held the first tournament without the approval of the organization, she branded him a traitor and marked him for death, sending [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Chaos|Chaos]], another member, to assassinate him. However, he escaped and went into hiding.
[[gl:Hermes]]

[[ko:헤르메스]]
One year later, Gaia received an invitation to participate in the second tournament. He reunited with his long-lost daughter [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Ellis|Ellis]] and entered the tournament with her, hoping to get revenge on Uranus. However, he eventually learned that she had already been killed.
[[hi:हरमीस]]

[[hr:Hermes]]
Gaia then discovered that he was being targeted by the Organization, a long-time rival group of the Secret Society. He then entered the tournament hosted by the Organization with Ellis, in order to help bring it down.
[[id:Hermes]]

[[it:Ermes]]
==Genma==
[[he:הרמס]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|China}} [[China]]
[[ka:ჰერმესი (მითოლოგია)]]
*Weapon: [[Dark magic]] and [[Black Tortoise|Genbu]] [[shield]]
[[la:Hermes]]

[[lv:Hermejs]]
'''Genma''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', an an initially playable character.
[[lb:Hermes]]

[[lt:Hermis]]
He is an ancient, murderous [[Magician (fantasy)|magician]], over 2000 years old, who killed the owner of a powerful, mystical shield which he later discovered to be one of the Four Sacred Arms. Upon learning that there were three other weapons of its kind, he decided to seek them out for himself in the fourth Toshinden tournament with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Miyabi|Miyabi]], a ninja girl he brainwashed and a cyborg named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Bang-Boo|Bang-Boo]].
[[hu:Hermész]]

[[mk:Хермес]]
==Judgement==
[[nl:Hermes (mythologie)]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|England}} [[England]]
[[ja:ヘルメース]]
*Weapon: [[Chainsaw]]
[[no:Hermes]]

[[nds:Hermes (Mythologie)]]
'''Judgement''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#David|David]]''', with a similar moveset to him, although it consists entirely of slashing attacks and he does not use any kicks. His physical appearance is based on [[Jason Voorhees]] of the ''[[Friday the 13th (franchise)|Friday the 13th]]'' franchise and like him, he is [[Muteness|mute]], uttering only grunts and groans while performing certain moves and low laughter in all his win poses.
[[pl:Hermes]]

[[pt:Hermes]]
He was once a friend of David, but had since joined the Organization and traded his humanity for dark powers. He participates in the third Toshinden tournament.
[[ro:Hermes]]

[[ru:Гермес]]
==Kayin Amoh==
[[simple:Hermes]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Scotland]] ([[retcon]]ned as [[England]] in later games)
[[sk:Hermes (boh)]]
*Weapon: [[Excalibur]]
[[sl:Hermes]]

[[sr:Хермес]]
'''Kayin Amoh''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]'' and the Japan only spin-offs ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden'' and ''Toshinden Card Quest''.
[[sh:Hermes]]

[[fi:Hermes]]
He is a friend of the series' main protagonist [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]]. At a young age, his biological father was killed by the underworld assassin, Tempest. When Tempest discovered he had slain a father, he took Kayin in to atone for it. However, Tempest was killed in the finals of a Toshinden tournament prior to the first game by Eiji's older brother, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho]]. Kayin then took up his adoptive father's mantle as a [[bounty hunter]], going by the codename of Storm. He was trained in swordfighting along with Eiji by Sho, until he suddenly disappeared. Eiji and Kayin then entered the first tournament and their friendship was nearly shattered when Kayin discovered the cause of Tempest's death.
[[sv:Hermes]]

[[ta:ஹெர்மீஸ்]]
For a while, Kayin left Eiji and went his separate ways, but they met again at the second tournament when Kayin was forced into participation after his adoptive daughter, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Naru Amoh|Naru]], was kidnapped by the Secret Society. Naru was the daughter of one of his past targets and he raised her through the guilt of killing her own father. He managed to rescue Naru and learned soon after that the Secret Society had been destroyed.
[[th:เฮอร์มีส]]

[[vi:Hermes (thần thoại)]]
Kayin then learned that he being targeted by the Organization and that he and Naru were in danger once more. Participating in the third tournament, he managed to help bring down the Organization. However, he realized that Naru would always be in danger because of him and through this theory, he decided to leave her in a private school. He handed down his Excalibur sword to her and then disappeared.
[[tr:Hermes]]

[[uk:Гермес (міфологія)]]
==Lancelot Lakeknight==
[[zh:赫耳墨斯]]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|England}} [[England]]
*Weapon: [[Rapier]]

'''Lancelot Lakeknight''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.

Having grew up in a sheltered noble family, he became rather cowardly. His father, displeased at this, trained him to [[fencing|fence]], and then sent him to learn further fighting techniques from [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Duke B. Rambert|Duke B. Rambert]]. One summer, while exploring Duke's castle, he encountered [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Naru Amoh|Naru Amoh]]. He challenged her to a match, but was defeated by her. After her win, she revealed that she was searching for her foster father, Kayin. She was given a clue on where to look by Duke. Naru then left for the fourth Toshinden tournament and Lancelot, inspired by her, decided to enter as well, with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Puella Marionette|Puella Marionette]], his internet friend and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Fen Barefoot|Fen Barefoot]].

==Leon==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]
*Weapon: [[Cutlass]]

'''Leon''' made his first and only appearance in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]]''', with a similar moveset to him.

He is a member of the Organization, who desires to be its leader. He enters the third Toshinden tournament in the belief that if he is able to defeat Eiji Shinjo and his companions, his goal will be achieved.

==Master==
*Weapon: Psychic [[sword]]s

'''Master''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', as the unlockable final boss.

He is the androgynous leader of a criminal organization known as the Secret Society. He had many bodyguards, the most notable ones being [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Chaos|Chaos]], [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Cupido|Cupido]], [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]]. However, when Gaia illegally held the first Toshinden tournament in order to start a rebellion against the organization, Uranus sent Chaos to track him down and kill him, however, he failed in his mission. Master then held the second Toshinden tournament in order to draw Gaia out into the open, using Uranus as bait. However, he and Uranus were slain by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho Shinjo]].

==Miss Til==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Malaysia}} [[Malaysia]]
*Weapon: Long [[flute]], which she wields like a [[Stick fighting|staff]]

'''Miss Til''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Shizuku Fuji|Shizuku Fuji]]''', with a similar moveset to her, although her attacks are slightly more damaging.

She is a [[fortune teller]] for the Organization and participates in the third Toshinden tournament.

==Miyabi==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: Large [[shuriken]] and [[kodachi]]

'''Miyabi''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.

She is a descendant of a [[ninja]] clan and unbeknown to her, was being spied on by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Genma|Genma]]. Eventually, she was kidnapped by him and he cast a spell on her, which placed her until his control and erased her memories. She eventually encountered and defeated a young man known as [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Rook Castle|Rook Castle]] in a street fight. When Genma learned of the upcoming fourth Toshinden tournament, Miyabi entered it with him, hoping to meet Rook again.

==Mondo==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[Azure Dragon|Seiryu]] [[spear]]

'''Mondo''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. He also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'' and ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]''.

He is a [[spy]] from an ancient warrior clan and had entered the first Toshinden tournament in order to collect information about the Secret Society for his client. Just as his client was about to attack the Secret Society, Mondo received an invitation to the second tournament. His client tried to hold him back, telling him to discard the invitation, but Mondo ignored the restraint and entered the tournament. At the end of the event, the Secret Society had fallen. He also participated in the third tournament, hosted by the Organization.

Afterwards, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]] became the head of the Gerard Foundation and when he learned about the power of the Four Sacred Arms, he started hunting for Mondo, since he carried one of them. He was also targeted by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Genma|Genma]], who also sought the power of the Four Sacred Arms. It is assumed that in the fourth tournament Eiji managed to catch up with Mondo, since [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eos|Eos]], one of Eiji's fighters, fought with his spear.

==Nagisa Iwashiro==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[Baton (law enforcement)|Baton]] and [[handgun]]

'''Nagisa Iwashiro''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an initially playable character. He has a somewhat similar moveset to [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Vermilion|Vermilion]], who serves as his counterpart.

He is a [[detective]], investigating the suspicious activities of the Organization with a policewoman from New York City named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Tracy|Tracy]]. Although the two are completely different in their approach to their work, they agree to enter the third Toshinden tournament together.

==Naru Amoh==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|England}} [[England]]
*Weapon: [[Excalibur]]

'''Naru Amoh''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable hidden character. She then appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]''.

She is [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Kayin Amoh|Kayin Amoh]]'s adoptive daughter, and was left at a [[private school]] at the end of the third tournament by him and never heard from him again. She began training with Kayin's legendary sword; Excalibur and eventually mastered his fighting style. On her sixteenth birthday, she ran away from the school and set out to learn the truth of her father's disappearance. She decided to enter the fourth Toshinden tournament for this reason, forming a team with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Rook Castle|Rook Castle]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Subaru Shinjo|Subaru Shinjo]].

==Puella Marionette==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Switzerland]]
*Weapon: [[Vermilion Bird|Suzaku]] [[Bow (weapon)|bow]]

'''Puella Marionette''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.

When she was an infant, while praying at the altar of a church, an angel-like woman appeared and gave her a bow. It turned out to be the Suzaku bow, one of the Four Sacred Arms. A while later, the Gerard Foundation learned of her weapon and attacked her orphanage. However, she managed to drive off the intruders. Ever since, though, it seemed that her presence was an inconvenience and a danger to the orphanage. When she turned sixteen, Puella left on a journey to the fourth Toshinden tournament, with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Fen Barefoot|Fen Barefoot]] and her internet friend [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Lancelot Lakeknight|Lancelot Lakeknight]].

==Rachael==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]
*Weapon: Double-sided twin [[tonfa]]

'''Rachael''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Tracy|Tracy]]''', with a similar moveset to her.

She is Tracy's older twin sister, who was separated at birth from her and abandoned by her parents. Left to fend for herself, she cursed her fate and learned to hate Tracy. She joined the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament in order to defeat her sister.

==Rook Castle==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]
*Weapon: [[Nunchaku]]

'''Rook Castle''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.

As a child, he had witnessed the first Toshinden tournament and was inspired to join a school of kung fu. He eventually started challenging street fighters and among them was ninja girl named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Miyabi|Miyabi]]. Although he lost, he developed an attraction to her. Rook then decided to enter the fourth Toshinden tournament with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Subaru Shinjo|Subaru Shinjo]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Naru Amoh|Naru Amoh]], hoping to meet Miyabi again and also to have a chance at testing his skills against his idol, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]].

==Rungo Iron==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]
*Weapon: Large [[Club (weapon)|club]]

'''Rungo Iron''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. He then appeared as an initially playable character in both ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'' and ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]''.

He is a [[miner]] who discovered a secret [[uranium]] deposit. When the Secret Society learned of this, they kidnapped his wife and children. After being led to the first Toshinden tournament, he entered it to rescue them and was successful in his mission. One year later, Rungo received a call for help from his friend [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]]. Gaia had hosted the tournament illegally and was now being branded a traitor and marked for death by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]], one of his co-workers in the Secret Society. Rungo agreed to help Gaia get revenge and entered the second tournament with him, eventually learning Uranus had been killed. When a third tournament was announced, Rungo learned that it was being hosted by the Organization and that he was one of their targets. He entered the tournament to help destroy the Organization.

==Schultz==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]]
*Weapon: [[Scythe]]

'''Schultz''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Chaos|Chaos]]'''.

He is a member of the Organization, and is described as being in charge of the ceremony in awakening the ancient fighting god Agon Teos. He participates in the third Toshinden tournament.

==Shizuku Fuji==
[[Image:ShizukuBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Shizuku's portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: Long [[smoking pipe]], which she wields like a [[Stick fighting|staff]]

'''Shizuku Fuji''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an initially playable character. She also appeared as an initially playable character in the Japan-only spin-off [[puzzle game]] ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden''.

She is a [[gambler]], who found and rescued [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#David|David]] soon after he had escaped from the Organization. Upon learning that he was being targeted by the Organization as the vessel for an ancient, evil fighting god, she decided to enter the third Toshinden tournament with him in order to help destroy the Organization.

==Sho Shinjo==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[Katana]]

'''Sho Shinjo''' made his first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as one of the unlockable final bosses. He then appeared as an unlockable hidden character in both ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'' and ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]''. His moveset is a slightly more damaging blend of both [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Kayin Amoh|Kayin Amoh]]'s attacks.

He had trained his younger brother Eiji and his friend Kayin Amoh in swordighting, however, he eventually abandoned the pair, as he felt they had reached an adequate level of swordsmanship and could train without him. He secretly entered the first Toshinden tournament and watched his brother from afar facing Gaia in the final battle. During this tournament, Sho also encountered [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Cupido|Cupido]], a woman from the Secret Society. They fell in love and eventually had a son together, named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Subaru Shinjo|Subaru]]. He then entered the second tournament, after learning [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Uranus|Uranus]], another woman from the Secret Society, had been creating clones of him and using them to frame him in crimes. He managed to kill her, along with the Secret Society's leader, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Master|Master]], thus destroying it. In the third tournament, he finally faced Eiji and learned he had brought down the Organization.

==Sofia==
[[Image:SofiaBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Sofia's portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Russia]]
*Weapon: [[Whip]]

'''Sofia''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'', as an initially playable character. She also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3|3]]'' and the Japan-only spin-offs ''[[Battle Arena Nitoshinden]]'', ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden'' and ''Toshinden Card Quest''.

She is a [[private detective]] and former [[KGB]] agent suffering from [[amnesia]]. She entered the first Toshinden tournament to recover her past and she eventually learned that her memory had been tampered-with by the Secret Society. When she heard that another fighter, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Chaos|Chaos]], was suffering from the same fate as her, she entered the second tournament in hopes of saving him. Although she was unsuccessful in her mission, she managed to help bring down the fall of the Secret Society. However, she eventually discovered that she was being targeted by the Organization, and she entered the third tournament hosted by it, in order to help destroy the Organization.

==Subaru Shinjo==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[White Tiger (Chinese constellation)|Byakko]] [[katana]]

'''Subaru Shinjo''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as an initially playable character.

He is the son of [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho Shinjo]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Cupido|Cupido]], who was trained by his uncle, [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji]], in swordfighting. However, one day, Eiji disappeared. Subaru decided to enter the fourth Toshinden tournament with his team mates [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Naru Amoh|Naru Amoh]] and [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Rook Castle|Rook Castle]], to find Eiji.

==Tau==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Brazil]]
*Weapon: Large [[broadsword]]

'''Tau''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]]''', with a similar moveset to him.

Although they have no blood ties, Tau thinks of [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Atahua|Atahua]] as his own child. He joined Atahua in the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament to help him attain his ambitions.

==Ten Count==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|England}} [[England]]
*Weapon: [[Rapier]]

'''Ten Count''' made his first and only appearance in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Kayin Amoh|Kayin Amoh]]''', with a similar moveset to him. His physical appearance is based on [[Michael Jackson]] from his music video for ''[[Smooth Criminal]]'', and he also exhibits some of his signature characteristics, including [[Moonwalk (dance)|moonwalking]], performing the dance from ''[[Thriller (music video)|Thriller]]'', making high-pitched whoops while executing certain attacks and grabbing his crotch to taunt.

He is an assassin for the Organization. His name derives from the fact that he counts down from ten when pursuing his targets, giving them a head start, before he chases them down and kills them. He participates in the third Toshinden tournament.

==Toujin==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Japan]]
*Weapon: [[Partisan (weapon)|Partisan]] and fire cannon

'''Toujin''' made his first and only appearance in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Mondo|Mondo]]''', with a similar moveset to him.

His wife had fallen ill with an incurable disease and in his quest to discover the secret of eternal life in order to save her, he joined the Organization and enters the third Toshinden tournament.

==Tracy==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]
[[Image:TracyBAT.jpg|thumb|125px|right|One of Tracy's portraits from the character select screen of ''Battle Arena Toshinden 3'']]
*Weapon: Twin [[tonfa]]

'''Tracy''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', as an initially playable character. She also appeared as an initially playable character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'' and the Japan-only spin-offs ''[[Battle Arena Nitoshinden]]'', ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden'' and ''Toshinden Card Quest''.

She is a [[New York City]] [[policewoman]], notorious for allowing criminals to attack her so that she can fight back in self-defense. She had received an invitation to the second Toshinden tournament. After participating in the event, the Secret Society was destroyed in its conclusion. She was then sent to Japan and given a new partner named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Nagisa Iwashiro|Nagisa Iwashiro]], to help bring down the Organization. Although his approach to his work is in total opposition to her own, they agree to enter the third tournament together.

==Uranus==
*Weapon: [[Vermilion Bird|Suzaku]] [[Bow (weapon)|bow]]

'''Uranus''' made her first appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', as an unlockable boss. She also appeared as an unlockable boss in both the [[Game Boy]] version of ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'' and the Japan-only spin-off [[puzzle game]] ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden''. She is also the main antagonist in the [[Battle Arena Toshinden (anime)|OVA]].

She is the second-in-command of the Secret Society, a criminal organization. Prior to joining [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Master|Master]], the leader of the Secret Society, Uranus was an ordinary woman and the girlfriend of [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Duke B. Rambert|Duke B. Rambert]].

When she learned that [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Gaia|Gaia]], one of her co-workers, had hosted the first Toshinden tournament behind the Secret Society's back, she declared him a traitor and marked him for death, sending [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Chaos|Chaos]] to assassinate him. However, Gaia escaped and went into hiding. She then send him an invitation to the second tournament in an attempt to lure him out. Eventually, however, she was killed, along with Master, by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sho Shinjo|Sho Shinjo]] before she could reach him.

During the events of the fourth tournament, a girl named [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Puella Marionette|Puella Marionette]] carries Uranus' bow and it is strongly implied that Uranus was her mother.

==Veil==
*Weapon: [[Laser]] blades

'''Veil''' made his first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as the unlockable final boss. He has a similar moveset to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Abel|Abel]]''', although his attacks are slightly more damaging.

He was once the leader of the Organization, but when he failed to summon the ancient fighting god Agon Teos in a past ceremony, he was imprisoned by Abel. He managed to break free during the third Toshinden tournament, ready to exact revenge on Abel and take over. However, he learned that [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]] had already killed him. Enraged, he attacked Eiji, but was also defeated and killed by him.

==Vermilion==
*Weapon: [[Shotgun]] and [[revolver]]

'''Vermilion''' made his first appearance in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 2]]'', as an unlockable hidden character. He also appeared as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Nagisa Iwashiro|Nagisa Iwashiro]]''' in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', an unlockable hidden character in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'' and the Japan-only [[super deformed]] ''[[Battle Arena Nitoshinden]]'' and an initially playable character in the Japan-only spin-off [[puzzle game]] ''Puzzle Arena Toshinden''.

He is a mysterious [[gunfighter]], hired by the Organization. He first appeared in the second Toshinden tournament, hiding in the shadows while watching the participants battle against one another. Afterwards, he entered the third tournament hosted by [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Abel|Abel]]. However, when [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]] destroyed the Organization and killed his leader, Vermilion fled the scene.

10 years later, a fourth tournament was announced which was secretly being held by Eiji in an attempt to lure out Vermilion. After learning that the tournament was to include fighters wielding the Four Sacred Arms, Vermilion entered, hoping to retrieve them.

==Zero==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Greece]]
*Weapon: Large [[broadsword]]

'''Zero''' made first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 4]]'', as one of the game's unlockable bosses.

He is a synthetic human, who revels in destruction, created by the Gerard Foundation, a criminal organization. He obtained a wound during an accident in an experiment that seemed to create an opening to a mysterious power within him. However, he was eventually sealed away by the Gerard Foundation, who considered his powers a threat. After a long time, however, thanks to the new leader [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eiji Shinjo|Eiji Shinjo]]'s influence, Zero managed to free himself. Joining Eiji's team as an executive of the Foundation along with [[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Eos|Eos]], he enters the fourth Toshinden tournament to find the Four Sacred Arms.

==Zola==
*Birthplace: {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Austria]]
*Weapon: [[Whip]]

'''Zola''' made her first and only appearance in the series in ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden 3]]'', as an unlockable counterpart to '''[[List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters#Sofia|Sofia]]''', with a similar moveset to her. Her physical appearance is based on [[Catwoman]] of the ''[[Batman]]'' franchise and she also exhibits some of the same feline behaviour as her, including running on all fours, rubbing her head against her whip as one of her win poses and embarrassedly [[Personal grooming|grooming]] herself if she is defeated when being controlled in a single-player gameplay mode.

She is a famous [[opera singer]], who doubles as an assassin for the Organization. She participates in the third Toshinden tournament.

{{Battle Arena Toshinden series}}

[[Category:Lists of video game characters|Battle Arena Toshinden]]

Revision as of 16:12, 10 October 2008

For other uses, see Hermes (disambiguation).
Hermes
Equivalents
Roman equivalentMercury

Hermes (Greek, Ἑρμῆς, /ˈhɝmiːz/), in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of thieves and road travelers, of orators and wit, of literature and poets, of athletics, of weights and measures, of invention, of general commerce, and of the cunning of thieves and liars.[1] His symbols include the tortoise, the rooster, the winged sandals, and the caduceus. The analogous Roman deity is Mercury.

The Homeric hymn to Hermes invokes him as the one "of many shifts (polytropos), blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods."[2]

Giambologna's Mercury in fountain of the Alameda Central, Mexico City.


Etymology

The name Hermes has been thought, ever since Karl Otfried Müller's demonstration,[3] to be derived from the Greek word herma (ἕρμα), which denotes a square or rectangular pillar with the head of Hermes (usually with a beard) adorning the top of the pillar, and ithyphallic male genitals below; however, due to the god's attestation in the Mycenaean pantheon, as Hermes Araoia ("Ram Hermes") in Linear B inscriptions in Pylos and Mycenaean Knossos (Ventris and Chadwick), the connection is more likely to have moved the opposite way, from deity to pillar representations. From the subsequent association of these cairns — which were used in Athens to ward off evil and also as road and boundary markers all over Greece — Hermes acquired patronage over land travel. Hermes was a messenger for Zeus. The reason for this was not only was he the fastest god but he was also loyal to his father, Zeus. Hermes is an olympian god and herald to the gods. He is the son of Zeus and Maia. He is known for gymnasium, roads, hospitality, astronomy, astrology, and and animals of husbandry. When he was little, he made the first lyre from an tortoise shell. Hermes was born in Arcadia.

Epithets of Hermes

Argeiphontes

Hermes' epithet Argeiphontes (Latin Argicida), or Argus-slayer, recalls his slaying of the hundred eyed giant Argus Panoptes, who was watching over the heifer-nymph Io in the sanctuary of Queen Hera herself in Argos. Putting Argus to sleep, Hermes used a spell to permanently close all of Argus' eyes and then slew the giant. Argus' eyes were then put into the tail of the peacock, symbol of the goddess Hera.


Other

Other epithets included:

  • Agoraeus, of the agora[4]
  • Acacesius, of Acacus
  • Charidotes, giver of charm
  • Criophorus, ram-bearer
  • Cyllenius, born on Mount Cyllene
  • Diaktoros, the messenger
  • Dolios, the schemer
  • Enagonios, lord of contests
  • Enodios, on the road
  • Epimelius, keeper of flocks
  • Eriounios, luck bringer
  • Polygius
  • Psychopompos, conveyor of souls

Cult

General article: Cult (religion).

Though temples to Hermes existed throughout Greece, a major center of his cult was at Pheneos in Arcadia, where festivals in his honor were called Hermoea.

As a crosser of boundaries, Hermes Psychopompos' ("conductor of the soul") was a psychopomp, meaning he brought newly-dead souls to the Underworld and Hades. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hermes conducted Persephone the Kore (young girl or virgin), safely back to Demeter. He also brought dreams to living mortals.

Among the Hellenes, as the related word herma ("a boundary stone, crossing point") would suggest, Hermes embodied the spirit of crossing-over: He was seen to be manifest in any kind of interchange, transfer, transgressions, transcendence, transition, transit or traversal, all of which involve some form of crossing in some sense. This explains his connection with transitions in one’s fortune -- with the interchanges of goods, words and information involved in trade, interpretation, oration, writing -- with the way in which the wind may transfer objects from one place to another, and with the transition to the afterlife.

Mercury by Hendrick Goltzius, 1611 (Frans Halsmuseum, Haarlem)

Many graffito dedications to Hermes have been found in the Athenian Agora, in keeping with his epithet of Agoraios and his role as patron of commerce.[4]

Originally, Hermes was depicted as an older, bearded, phallic god, but in the 6th century BCE, the traditional Hermes was reimagined as an athletic youth (illustration, top right). Statues of the new type of Hermes stood at stadiums and gymnasiums throughout Greece.

Hermai/Herms

Main article: Herma

In very Ancient Greece, Hermes was a phallic god of boundaries. His name, in the form herma, was applied to a wayside marker pile of stones; each traveller added a stone to the pile. In the 6th century BCE, Hipparchos, the son of Pisistratus, replaced the cairns that marked the midway point between each village deme at the central agora of Athens with a square or rectangular pillar of stone or bronze topped by a bust of Hermes with a beard. An erect phallus rose from the base. In the more primitive Mount Kyllini or Cyllenian herms, the standing stone or wooden pillar was simply a carved phallus. In Athens, herms were placed outside houses for good luck. "That a monument of this kind could be transformed into an Olympian god is astounding," Walter Burkert remarked (Burkert 1985).

In 415 BCE, when the Athenian fleet was about to set sail for Syracuse during the Peloponnesian War, all of the Athenian hermai were vandalized. The Athenians at the time believed it was the work of saboteurs, either from Syracuse or from the anti-war faction within Athens itself. Socrates' pupil Alcibiades was suspected to have been involved, and Socrates indirectly paid for the impiety with his life.

From these origins, hermai moved into the repertory of Classical architecture.

Hermes' iconography

Hermes with petasus, talaria and caduceus: Mercury fastening his sandals, by François Rude, (Musée du Louvre)

Hermes was usually portrayed wearing a broad-brimmed traveler's hat or a winged cap (petasus), wearing winged sandals (talaria), and carrying his Near Eastern herald's staff -- either a caduceus entwined by serpents, or a kerykeion topped with a symbol similar to the astrological symbol of Taurus the bull. Hermes wore the garments of a traveler, worker, or shepherd. He was represented by purses or bags, roosters (illustration, left), and tortoises. When depicted as Hermes Logios, he was the divine symbol of eloquence, generally shown speaking with one arm raised for emphasis.

Birth

Hermes was born in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia to Maia. As the story is told in the Homeric Hymn, the Hymn to Hermes, Maia was a nymph, but Greeks generally applied the name to a midwife or a wise and gentle old woman; so the nymph appears to have been an ancient one, or more probably a goddess. At any rate, she was one of the Pleiades, daughters of Atlas, taking refuge in a cave of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia.

The infant Hermes was precocious. His first day he invented the lyre. By nightfall, he had rustled the immortal cattle of Apollo. For the first sacrifice, the taboos surrounding the sacred kine of Apollo had to be transgressed, and the trickster god of boundaries was the one to do it.

Hermes drove the cattle back to Greece and hid them, and covered their tracks. When Apollo accused Hermes, Maia said that it could not be him because he was with her the whole night. However, Zeus entered the argument and said that Hermes did steal the cattle and they should be returned. While arguing with Apollo, Hermes began to play his lyre. The instrument enchanted Apollo and he agreed to let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.

Hermes' offspring

Pan

The satyr-like Greek god of nature, shepherds and flocks, Pan was often said to be the son of Hermes through the nymph Dryope. In the Homeric Hymn to Pan, Pan's mother ran away from the newborn god in fright from his goat-like appearance.

Hera

Hermaphroditus was an immortal son of Hermes through Aphrodite. He was changed into an intersex person when the gods literally granted the nymph Salmacis' wish that they never separate.

Priapus

The god Priapus was a son of Hermes and Aphrodite. In Priapus, Hermes' phallic origins survived. According to other sources, Priapus was a son of Dionysus and Aphrodite

Zues

According to some sources, the mischievous winged god of love Eros, son of Aphrodite, was sired by Hermes, though the gods Ares and Hephaestus were also among those said to be the sire, whereas in the Theogeny, Hesiod claims that Eros was born of nothing before the Gods. Eros' Roman name was Cupid.

Tyche

The goddess of luck, Tyche (Greek Τύχη), or Fortuna, was sometimes said to be the daughter of Hermes and Aphrodite.

Abderus

Abderus was a son of Hermes who was devoured by the Mares of Diomedes. He had gone to the Mares with his friend Heracles.

Autolycus

Autolycus, the Prince of Thieves, was a son of Hermes and grandfather of Odysseus.

List of Hermes' consorts and children

  1. Aglaurus Athenian priestess
    1. Eumolpus warlord
  2. Antianeira Malian princess
    1. Echion Argonaut
  3. Apemosyne Cretan princess
  4. Aphrodite
    1. Eros (in one tradition)
    3. Hermaphroditus
    4. Peitho
    5. Priapus (in some traditions)
    6. Rhodos
    7. Tyche
  5. Carmentis Arcadian nymph
    1. Evander founder of Latium
  6. Chione Phocian princess
    1. Autolycus thief
  7. Dryope Arcadian nymph
    1. Pan rustic god
  8. Eupolomia Phthian princess
    1. Aethalides Argonaut herald
  9. Herse Athenian priestess
    1. Cephalus hunter
    2. (Also Ceryx)
  10. Crocus who died and became the crocus flower
  11. Pandrosus Athenian priestess
    1. Ceryx Eleusinian herald
  12. Peitho ("Persuasion" his wife according to Nonnos)
  13. Penelope Arcadian nymph (or wife of Odysseus)
    1. Pan (according to one tradition)
  14. Persephone (according to one tradition)
  15. Polymele (daughter of Phylas according to Iliad)
    1. Eudorus (myrmidon; soldier in Trojan War)
  16. Sicilian nymph
    1. Daphnis rustic poet
  17. Theobula Eleian princess
    1. Myrtilus charioteer
  18. Born of the urine of Hermes, Poseidon and Zeus
    1. Orion giant hunter (in one tradition)
  19. Unknown mothers
    1. Abderus squire of Heracles

Hermes in the myths

The Iliad

In Homer's Iliad, Hermes helps King Priam of Troy (Ilium) sneak into the Achaean (Greek) encampment to confront Achilles and convince him to return Hector's body.

The body of Sarpedon is carried away from the battlefield of Troy by the twin winged gods, Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death). The pair are depicted clothed in armour, and are overseen by Hermes Psykhopompos (Guide of the Dead). The scene appears in book 16 of Homer's Iliad:

"[Apollon] gave him [the dead Sarpedon] into the charge of swift messengers to carry him, of Hypnos (Sleep) and Thanatos (Death), who are twin brothers, and these two presently laid him down within the rich countryside of broad Lykia." - Homer, Iliad 16.681

The Odyssey

In book 5, Hermes is sent to demand from Calypso Odysseus's release from the island of Aeaea; in book 10, he protects Odysseus from Circe by bestowing upon him a herb, moly, which protects him from her soporific spell. Hermes also appears in book 24, where he plays the role of Psychopompos and leads the freshly slain suitors and disloyal maids to the underworld. Odysseus, the main character of the Odyssey, is of matrilineal descent from Hermes.[5]

Perseus

Hermes aided Perseus in killing the gorgon (Medusa) by giving Perseus his winged sandals and Zeus' sickle. He also gave Perseus Hades' helmet of invisibility and told him to use it so that Medusa's immortal sisters could not see him. Athena helped Perseus as well by lending him her polished shield. Hermes also guided Perseus to the Underworld.

Zues

In the ancient play Prometheus Bound, attributed to Aeschylus, Zeus sends Hermes to confront the enchained Titan Prometheus about a prophecy of the Titan's that Zeus would be overthrown. Hermes scolds Prometheus for being unreasonable and willing to endure torture, but Prometheus refuses to give him details about the prophecy.

Herse/Aglaurus/Pandrosus

When Hermes loved Herse, one of three sisters who served Athena as priestesses or parthenos, her jealous older sister Aglaurus stood between them. Hermes changed Aglaurus to stone. Hermes then impregnated Aglaurus while she was stone. Cephalus was the son of Hermes and Herse. Hermes had another son, Zues, who was said to be the offspring of either Herse or Herse's other sister, Pandrosus. With Aglaurus, Hermes was the father of Eumolpus.

Other stories

In the story of the musician Orpheus, Hermes brought Eurydice back to Hades after Orpheus failed to bring her back to life when he looked back toward her after Hades told him not to.

Hermes helped to protect the infant god Dionysus from Hera, after Hera destroyed Dionysus' mortal mother Semele through her jealousy that Semele had conceived an immortal son of Zeus.

Hermes changed the Minyades into bats.

Hermes learned from the Thriae the arts of fortune-telling and divination.

When the gods created Pandora, it was Hermes who brought her to mortals and bestowed upon her a strong sense of curiosity.

King Atreus of Mycenae retook the throne from his brother Thyestes using advice he received from the trickster Hermes. Thyestes agreed to give the kingdom back when the sun moved backwards in the sky, a feat that Zeus accomplished. Atreus retook the throne and banished Thyestes.

Diogenes, speaking in jest, related the myth of Hermes taking pity on his son Pan, who was pining for Echo but unable to get a hold of her, and teaching him the trick of masturbation to relieve his suffering. Pan later taught the habit to shepherds.[6]

Battus, a shepherd from Pylos, witnessed Hermes stealing Apollo's cattle. Though he promised his silence, he told many others. Hermes turned him to stone.

Hermes in classical art

Main page: Category:Hermes types

Pop Culture

Notes

  1. ^ W. Burkert, Greek Religion 1985 section III.2.8; "Hermes." Encyclopedia Mythica from Encyclopedia Mythica Online. Retrieved October 04, 2006.
  2. ^ Hymn to Hermes 13. The word polutropos ("of many shifts, turning many ways, of many devices, ingenious, or much wandering") is also used to describe Odysseus in the first line of the Odyssey.
  3. ^ K.O. Müller, Handbuch der Archäologie 1848.
  4. ^ a b Mabel Lang (1988). Graffiti in the Athenian Agora (PDF). Excavations of the Athenian Agora (rev. ed. ed.). Princeton, NJ: American School of Classical Studies at Athens. pp. p. 7. ISBN 87661-633-3. Retrieved 2007-04-14. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  5. ^ Meletinskii 1993, Introduzione, p. 131
  6. ^ Dio Chrysostom, Discourses, vi.20

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hermes.
  • Walter Burkert, 1985. Greek Religion (Harvard University Press)
  • Kerenyi, Karl, 1944. Hermes der Seelenführer.
  • Ventris, Michael and Chadwick, John (1956). Documents in Mycenaean Greek. Second edition (1974). (Cambridge UP) ISBN 0-521-08558-6.
  • Meletinskii, Eleazar M. 1986, Vvedenie v istoričeskuû poétiku éposa i romana. Moscow, Nauka.Template:Ru icon
    • Introduzione alla poetica storica dell'epos e del romanzo (1993) Template:It icon

External links

Template:Greek myth (Olympian)2

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Battle_Arena_Toshinden_characters&oldid=244394110"