The guile and duplicity he had shown in stealing Apollo’s cattle made Hermes a natural choice for god of rascals, thieves, liars, conmen, gamblers, hucksters, jokers, storytellers, and sportsmen. The grander side to liars, jokers, and storytellers gave him a share in literature, poetry, oratory, and wit too. His skill and insight allowed him to hold sway in the fields of science and medicine.72 He became the god of commerce and trade, of herdsmen (of course), and of travel and roads.
