To him is ascribed the introduction of the sending of embassies to sue for peace. Hermes, the robber and cattle driver, the prince of tricksters, the thief at the gates, the bringer of dreams, the patron of travellers, is also the governor of the tongue and the guide of intelligent speech. Hermes is called Argiphontes, for having killed the All-seeing Argus 1 who guarded Io , and Psychopompus for being the guide of souls to the Underworld . Born in Arcadia Maia gave birth to Hermes in a cave in Mount Cyllene in Arcadia . Some say that Hermes was raised by Acacus, son of the Arcadian king Lycaon 2 .
Amazing child steals cattle.
Hermes was born with the dawn, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening he went to Pieria, a region about Mount Olympus in northern Thessaly, and stole the cattle of Apollo , while Apollo was distracted because of his love for Hymenaeus 2. The theft was witnessed by Battus 1, who promised not to tell. But, not being able to keep his promise, he was turned by Hermes into a stone. Hermes invents the lyre. When stealing the cattle, and in order not to be detected, Hermes put shoes on their feet and brought them to Pylos , hidding the rest in a cave.