HERMES

BIOGRAPHY

• Hermes is the Greek god of messengers. He is also referred to as “The Messenger” and Ermis. He is the child of Zeus and Pleiade Maia, who is the daughter of Atlas the titan. His name is derived from the word “herma.” His sacred animals are roosters and tortises.

SUMMARY OF MYTH

• One day, Hermes decided to mess with Apollo, so he stole his cattle. Apollo wanted the cattle back, so he got them back from Hermes. As an apology, Hermes made the lyre and gave it to Apollo.

Hermes

AMATERASU

BIOGRAPHY

• Amaterasu is the Japanese goddess of the Sun. She is considered the ancestor of the Japanese emperors. She represents warmth, love, fertility, and goodness. She is related to Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, Izamagi, Yatanokagami, and Ninigi. She is also referred to as Amaterasu-Ōmikami.

SUMMARY OF MYTH

• Amaterasu told her husband/brother, Tsukuyomi, to visit Uke-Mochi on Earth. Tsukuyomi saw that Uke-Mochi would eat and defecate his food down on Earth to feed the humans. Tsukuyomi got so mad at Uke-Mochi, that he killed him. Once he returned to his wife/sister, she found out and banished him, causing the separation of night and day

Amaterasu

APOPHIS

BIOGRAPHY

• Apophis is the gigantic, evil, red snake you hear about in Egyptian mythology. As the arch-nemesis of Ra, he is very evil. His names are Evil, Apep, Ἄποφις, Apepi, Aapp, and Enemy of Ra. Every night, he fights Ra, trying to kill him permanently.

SUMMARY OF MYTH

• Every night, Ra takes his Sun boat and drags the Sun down, so it can set. Apophis tries to stop him from doing so by attacking him and trying to kill him permanently. Every night, Ra defeats, but doesn’t kill, Apophis.

Apophis

FORTUNA

BIOGRAPHY

• Fortuna is the Italian goddess of luck, chance, fate, and fortune. She has many names, 22 to be exact. She is blind and has wings. She is represented by the cornucopia, and she is represented by the Rota Fortunae (Wheel of Fortune), and a ship rudder. The day June 11th is sacred to her.

SUMMARY OF A MYTH

• As Atrox fortuna, she claimed the lives of Gaius and Lucius Caesar. They were the grandsons of princeps Augustus (Gaius Octavius).

Fortuna