The Adventures of Hermes, God of Thieves Page 7
Hermes was thrilled to have witnessed his father’s childhood. Yet he still could not understand what had given such fright to Hestia. What was there so terrible in that childhood? “You will understand later what your aunt Hestia did not dare to tell you,” said Pausania to him. “It is now high time you went back to Olympus. Your brother Hephaestus needs you. You will return to your father’s past another time—I will wait for you. Now go.”
To be continued…
EPISODE 24
IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS ARTIST ENTERS THE PALACE
Previously: Hermes has just witnessed his father’s birth and then his childhood. Pausania, however, has told him that his brother Hephaestus has need of him.
On his way back, Hermes wondered how he might be able to help Hephaestus. He often thought of this little brother whose mother had thrown him out of the window. He had tried hard several times to find again the cave where the nymph Thetis had received him, yet he had never been able to discover its whereabouts. On that day, Hermes sat on a rock by the seaside, all the while thinking of Hephaestus’ disappearance. The water was calm and pure, just barely disturbed by a light wind which formed delicate ripples on its surface. His gaze wandered in this way across the surface of the sea, until it was caught by something shiny. With a flap of his wings, Hermes swooped down upon the flash of light. It was a piece of jewellery, a splendid brooch. “It must have been made by a craftsman of exceptional skill,” Hermes told himself. The brooch was placed on a bed of seaweed and it floated on the surface of the water. Hermes took it and returned to Olympus.
When he arrived at his father’s palace, Hermes had attached the brooch to his tunic. This jewel did not pass unnoticed. No one had ever seen one as beautiful as this. The goddesses and nymphs pushed and shoved one another, the better to admire it. Hermes was flattered. White-armed Hera came by, however.
“Give me that brooch!” she cried.
“And why should I?” replied Hermes impertinently.
Scarlet with rage, Hera shouted: “Because I am the wife of the god of gods, and because no one has the right to wear jewels more beautiful than mine!”
Disgruntled, Hermes handed her the brooch. Then, the very next morning, when it was time for the assembly of the gods, a goddess appeared at the palace wearing on her head a magnificent jewel: it was a very finely chased diadem. It sparkled and every gaze turned towards its wearer. No one looked at Hera any more, despite her exquisite brooch. Furious, Hera leant towards her husband and asked him to summon the goddess to him. It was the nymph Thetis. She approached the throne.
Zeus questioned her: “Who is the artist who has fashioned a diadem of such beauty?”
“The same as the one who made your wife’s brooch,” replied Thetis.
“What is his name?” exclaimed Zeus. Thetis kept silent.
Hera lost all patience: “I demand to know his name, for I wish him to come here and remain close to me so that he can make me the most beautiful jewels in the universe!”
With a small sidelong smile, Thetis murmured: “Are you quite sure, O goddess?”
“Yes!” replied Hera.
And so Thetis asked leave to absent herself, so she might go and fetch the artist who could twist the precious metals with such divine skill.
The crowd that had gathered in the great hall of the palace was waiting for her return with great curiosity. It surely had to be a god. Yet which god? Suddenly, the heavy doors were opened. A stocky, hunchbacked figure came limping forth. He was still young, yet a shaggy beard hid part of his face. He was extremely ugly. A startled murmur ran through the throng. How could this vile fellow be the one who had fashioned such graceful objects? The man approached the throne of Zeus and Hera and then went down on his knee. Only his broad, bull-like shoulders could be seen, and his great unkempt mane of hair.
“I am at your service, O king and queen of Olympus,” he said. “My name is Hephaestus.”
To be continued…
EPISODE 25
WHICH MAKES THE TRIUMPH OF HEPHAESTUS COMPLETE
Previously: The artist capable of creating the most splendid golden jewels in the whole universe has just been received on Olympus: it is Hephaestus.
Upon hearing her son’s name, Hera let out a scream and brought her hand to her mouth. Zeus, however, left his throne, approached the still-kneeling young man and gently raised him up.
“Welcome to my house, my son. You know how to work the metal as no other, and I therefore proclaim you the god of Fire and Blacksmiths. Come and live in my palace.” Then, in a grave, emotional voice, Zeus added: “And so that I may be forgiven for not having known how to protect you from your mother’s rage when you were born, ask me for anything you want, and I shall grant it.”
Hephaestus lifted up his head. A smile lit up his hideous face. He had waited for this moment for such a very long time.
Tears of joy were streaming down Hermes’ cheeks. He was happy to see his brother return to the family of the gods. And he waited with curious interest to know what he would ask of their father. Now Hephaestus was turning his villainous face towards the crowd of gods and goddesses. His gaze stopped upon Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty.
“She is the one I want,” he told his father. “I would like to marry her.”
The gods’ assembly broke into a murmur. What was Zeus going to reply to that?
The god of gods did not hesitate for a moment, for he had promised—and Zeus always kept his word. He beckoned to Aphrodite to approach. When the goddess was by his side, he took her hand and offered it to Hephaestus:
“Aphrodite will be your wife, my son, since you so desire it.”
So the god who had been rejected on account of his ugliness was to marry the goddess of Beauty! Hephaestus was happy. With his eyes he sought the nymph Thetis among the crowd. She had been able to replace his mother. She had received him and cared for him in her cave. She had encouraged him to heat the metal, then smite it and twist it until he could give birth to these wondrous objects of silver and gold. She alone had believed in him, had had faith in him. She alone had loved him.
Thetis looked smilingly at Hephaestus. She was proud of him. She knew that from now on Hephaestus no longer needed her. She made a small sign of farewell to him. The god felt a momentary pinch in his heart, yet he was too happy finally to have been received in his father’s house. He responded to Thetis’ sign of farewell by sending her a kiss with his hand. Then he looked at Hera, his mother. There was no hatred in that look. Only love for the one who had brought him into the world.
Throughout that time, Hermes had been observing Aphrodite. What did she think of this marriage? The goddess’ face showed neither anger nor opposition, it remained as smooth, as beautiful—and as cold—as ever. “Hephaestus will have no end of trouble with her,” thought Hermes. He approached his brother, laid his hand on his shoulder and said: “I am happy to see you once again in our midst. I have looked for you for so very long…” Hephaestus was not listening, however. He had taken Aphrodite’s hand and was gazing triumphantly over the assembly of the gods. Most of the gods present were lowering their heads. They were horribly jealous of Hephaestus, for many among them had hoped to marry Aphrodite, yet Zeus had always refused.
Hermes looked with astonishment at all these powerful gods obeying his father’s will in silence. Why were they all obeying him, in fact? Why were they consenting to this marriage without saying anything at all? Yes, why exactly did Zeus command the gods?
To be continued…
EPISODE 26
IN WHICH ZEUS LEARNS THE SECRET OF HIS BIRTH
Previously: Zeus has agreed that Hephaestus, the ugliest god on Olympus, can marry Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty. Hermes is asking himself why the gods obey his father.
Hermes knew the way to Pausania’s home by heart. He arrived at the cave of the old nurse of the babies of the gods towards the end of the day. He was impatient to decipher this new secret, yet he took the time to observe the colours
of the setting sun, just as Antalia had taught him. The red hues were reflected on Pausania’s face.
“O beloved nurse, I wish to see how my father became king of Olympus!” said Hermes, already laying his head on the old woman’s lap.
But Pausania lifted up the young god’s face between her wrinkled hands, and said: “Hermes, that particular journey is very long. It will last many, many days, and it is not without danger. Once again, are you quite certain that you wish to undertake it?”
A shiver ran down Hermes’ spine, yet his eyes did not falter. “Yes,” he murmured, “I must know.”
“All right then. It will be as you wish,” replied the nurse. She let Hermes’ head rest on her lap. He closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyelids once more, Hermes was lying in a meadow, where a brook was flowing past. Tall heather tickled his face and kept him hidden from view. A young shepherd with a strong, athletic body had his back turned to him. He stood five paces away by the edge of the water, yet there was no risk of his seeing him because he was busy talking with a young woman. Her face was exceptionally beautiful. Yet what struck Hermes most were her eyes, which were as blue as the night. “Who are you?” the shepherd was asking the young woman. She did not reply, turning herself instead into a butterfly. The shepherd ran after her to catch her. Hermes saw her change into a titmouse. Then into a rabbit. Then again into a doe. The shepherd, who was falling in love for the first time, never stopped following her, laughing at all these transformations. Once the doe had changed back into a young woman, she consented to tell him her name: she was called Metis. She plunged her night-blue eyes into the shepherd’s and told him these mysterious words:
“I recognize you, shepherd. And I know who you are even better than you know it yourself…” The shepherd, startled, replied nothing. Metis went on: “Your name is Zeus, isn’t it?”
“But how do you know my name?” said the shepherd, bewildered.
“I know a great deal more about you,” smiled Metis. “I know that when you were born, your father wanted to swallow you up as he had swallowed your five brothers and sisters before you. And I also know how your mother and your grandmother saved your life by hiding you away here on this island.”
When he heard these words, Zeus turned very pale. This woman knew his name. He could tell that she was not lying.
“But who is my father?” he asked Metis, his voice trembling.
“You are the son of Cronus, the king of the world,” she replied.
Zeus sat down on the grass and took his head between his hands. He had just discovered the secret of his birth, and this awful secret left him sad and powerless. Metis went close to him and put her arms tenderly around his shoulders.
“Come, now, Zeus, son of the king of the world, you can become king of the world yourself if you wish. Do you know what now remains for you to do? You must avenge yourself against this terrible father.”
Hermes saw Zeus lift up his head again, very slowly. His face was no longer sad, it was hard and tense.
“You are right. Will you come with me?” he asked Metis. The young woman nodded yes. And so they got up together and left for the harbour.
This is how Zeus and Metis boarded the first ship that was heading for the palace of Cronus, leaving the island behind. Hermes, of course, had slipped on board the vessel as well. Zeus’ face remained preoccupied. He could not sleep at night. He kept thinking all the time about everything that Metis had revealed to him, and his anger against this cruel father who swallowed his children never stopped growing. Yet he did not know how to defeat him.
One morning he approached Metis, who was leaning on her elbows against the gunwale and was looking at the sea.
“Metis, I implore you, give me some advice on how to take my revenge on Cronus.”
Metis smiled. This woman with the sea-blue eyes was the very essence of cunning and intelligence.
“Your father is unaware of your existence, since he believes that he has swallowed you,” she answered. “There is no risk therefore that he might recognize you. Enter his service in order to get close to him. Once you are among his servants, you will be able to act.” Zeus thanked her with a kiss.
When he arrived at the palace of Cronus, Zeus had no difficulty entering into his father’s service. He had been working in the palace for some days when he came across his mother Rhea in a corridor. Rhea stopped, she looked at him briefly, and instantly a great smile appeared on her face: she had recognized her son immediately. She led him away from prying eyes and threw herself into his arms.
“Mother, I am happy to find you again,” said Zeus, kissing her affectionately. “Yet I have come here to avenge myself against my father’s cruelty. Will you help me?”
Rhea replied: “You may count on me, my son. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
Upon hearing those words, Hermes understood that another drama was unfolding.
To be continued…
EPISODE 27
IN WHICH ZEUS AVENGES HIMSELF ON CRONUS
Previously: Zeus has entered the palace of his father Cronus as a servant. With the help of his mother Rhea he wishes to avenge himself against his father.
It was on a thundery night that Zeus and Rhea decided to act against Cronus. That evening, the thunderstorm was terribly violent. Cronus walked incessantly up and down in his room. He was talking to himself and he took no notice of Rhea, who was sitting in a corner of the room. His dishevelled hair, his puffed face, his wrinkled clothes—everything showed clearly that the Erinyes still came to visit him every night and prevented him from sleeping. He was very agitated and he never stopped eating. Several servants came and went in order to serve him enormous dishes full of food, which Cronus never stopped devouring. Zeus had slipped in among these servants. Hermes saw Zeus discreetly hand Rhea a decanter of wine. With a quick movement, Rhea dropped a powder into the wine. Then Zeus approached his father and served him drink. Hermes was trembling like a leaf. Flashes of lightning illuminated the sky, and thunder rumbled. Cronus brought the cup of wine he had just been served to his lips. He made a wry face, as if the wine had a bitter taste, yet he swallowed the drink in one go. Suddenly Cronus began to convulse uncontrollably, seized by some great pain. He threw up an enormous stone wrapped up in baby swaddles. Then he also vomited Hestia, the first of the daughters that he had swallowed. He threw up Hades next, then Poseidon, followed by Hera and finally Demeter. The five brothers and sisters of Zeus had just been set free from their father’s belly! For Rhea had added a vomiting powder to the wine Zeus had served him.
Cronus gave a roar of fury and threw himself out into the storm. His children went after him in the pelting rain. But he vanished into the night. The gods who had just been saved returned to the palace to celebrate their second birth. They could not stop embracing Zeus, swearing to him their total allegiance. Suddenly, a voice rose above the tumult:
“My children, you ought to prepare yourselves for battle. For your father will not give up like this. A war will break out.” It was Rhea, who was trying to put them on their guard.
Zeus placed one knee on the ground, kissed his mother’s hand respectfully, and asked: “Mother, what must we do?”
The goddess did not hesitate: “Set up your camp on one of the highest mountains that you can find and prepare your weapons. Cronus will go and fetch his brothers the Titans to fight you with. You, Zeus, you shall have to get out of the depths of the earth the Cyclopes and the hundred-handed Giants. Once these monsters have become your allies, you shall be able to win this war.”
Hermes followed Zeus till they reached a very high mountain towering over the earth. As he approached, Hermes recognized Mount Olympus. “We are the Olympians from now on,” said Zeus to his brothers and sisters. Then he welcomed the Cyclopes and the hundred-handed Giants. When Hermes saw all these monsters arrive, brought back from below the earth, he felt rather alarmed. Cronus, however, soon attacked the Olympians, accompanied by his powerf
ul brothers and sisters the Titans. Hermes now found it quite reassuring to know that these monsters were on Zeus’ side. Enormous boulders of rock crashed everywhere around Olympus. The earth never stopped trembling. The sky remained black, thick with the smoke arising from the terrible combats waged between old gods and young gods.
In the cave where the Cyclopes had set up their forge, Zeus and his two brothers, Hades and Poseidon, were holding a council of war.
“We must win,” Poseidon was saying, “or else the earth will revert to Chaos.”
“The brutal forces of Cronus will destroy everything if we do not stop him quickly enough,” Hades was sighing.
“We need an invincible army in order to re-establish peace,” Zeus was murmuring.
Hermes, who had slipped quietly into a corner of the cave, came nearer so he could hear them better. As he was moving towards the three gods, he passed close by the reddening forge. And what he saw caught his eye immediately. The Cyclopes struck and struck with all their might upon the burning metal. Showers of sparks burst forth. Under the hammer clangs of the Cyclops Brontes, a gigantic three-pronged fork was beginning to take shape. The Cyclops was fashioning a weapon. Once the fork had been finished, Brontes held it out to Poseidon. He bellowed: “Here is your trident, it will be the symbol of your power.” The second Cyclops, named Arges, was almost done hammering the burning metal as well. He had wrought an enormous helmet. He handed it to Hades. Hades put it on his head and… he vanished! This helmet made the bearer invisible. He who put on this helmet disappeared instantly from the sight of others. Yet these were not the only surprises that lay in store for the three gods.