Hermes was the son of Zeus, the father of all gods, and the nymph Maya. The Greeks attributed multiple functions to him: he was the messenger of Zeus, his father, guide of the souls of the dead to hell, a symbol of prosperity among men and protector of travellers, merchants and thieves. Hermes was gifted by Zeus with the famous winged cap (the petasos) and a pair of shoes also equipped with wings (the talari) so that he could fulfill Zeus’ orders more quickly.