Reconsidering Zeus’ Order: The Reconciliation of Apollo and Hermes

Authors

Christopher Bungard, Butler UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Publication Title

Classical World

First Page

443

Last Page

469

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/clw.2012.0029

Abstract

This paper argues that the Homeric Hymn to Hermes explores competing ways of approaching the world through the figures of Hermes and Apollo. Apollo’s reliance on the established world, partially marked by the knowledge of εἰδέναι, is insufficient in understanding Hermes, who aligns himself with the flexible capacity of νόος. Whereas Apollo eliminates his rivals in order to establish himself permanently, Hermes exploits unexplored potentials in order to create space alongside the established gods in the Olympian order. Ultimately, the newly forged friendship of Apollo and Hermes helps us understand the nature of Zeus more fully.

Rights

Copyright © 2012 The Johns Hopkins University Press. This article first appeared in CLASSICAL WORLD, Volume 105, Issue 4, Summer, 2012, pages 443-469.

Recommended Citation

2012. “Reconsidering Zeus’ Order: The Reconciliation of Apollo and Hermes.” Classical World 105(4): 443-469. Available from: digitalcommons.butler.edu/facsch_papers/558/