Women, Weird and Wonderful: Maia, Mother of Hermes-Mercurius

Maia was the eldest of the seven Pleiades sisters, namegivers of the Pleiades constellation. The Romans heard the word “maior” (“greater”) in her name, and – associating her with growth – made her a spring goddess. Originally, the Pleiades were daughters of the titan Atlas, harrassed for their beauty by gods, hunters, demigods, heroes, princes and kings alike. Maia, being the most timid of the seven, made a habit of hiding in a cave, but for supreme god Zeus of course, this made her all the more desirable. He did make an effort, creating “divine flowers” for her (“dianthus” in Greek). Contrary to what you may expect, these were not may bells, but carnations, still worn to impress. It brought him nowhere though. So he did the natural thing: waiting till she she was fast asleep, sneaking into her grotto and taking what was not offered. Subsequently, Maia got pregnant with Hermes, the messenger god, known for his unscrupulous, even devious nature. Not surprising, given the way he was conceived.

Spring (The Birth of Venus), Botticelli, Galleria Uffizi, Firenze, Italy

Hermes mit Maia, Götterversammlung in Olymp,

Bauchamphora, Staatliche Antikensammlungen, Münich, Germany