In Greek mythology, the messenger of the gods; son of Zeus and
Maia, one of the Pleiades. Homer's
Odyssey presented the god as the conductor of the dead (shades) to
Hades, in which capacity he became associated with the underworld and dreams. Identified with the Roman
Mercury and ancient Egyptian
Thoth, he protected thieves, travellers, and merchants. As a god of good fortune, he presided over some forms of popular divination, public competitions, and games of dice.
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