Hermes Psychopompos
In his role as Psychopompos, Hermes escorted the souls of the dead to the underworld — the only Olympian who moved freely between all three realms.
The Myth of Hermes Psychopompos
Hermes Psychopompos — Hermes in his role as guide of the dead — led souls from the mortal world down to the banks of the river Styx, where Charon waited with his ferry. In the final book of the Odyssey, Hermes escorts the ghosts of the slain suitors to the underworld, described carrying his golden staff. He was one of the few Olympians who moved freely between Olympus, earth, and Hades's realm. This role made Hermes indispensable: he guided Persephone back to Demeter each spring, led Heracles to Cerberus during his twelfth labour, and showed Orpheus the path below. At Delphi and Athens, stone herms marked crossroads — thresholds between worlds that belonged to the Psychopompos.
Parents
Zeus and Maia
Children
See Hermes entry
Symbols
Fun Fact
The term "psychopomp" — any guide of souls — comes directly from this Hermes epithet.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Hades
⚡ godKing of the underworld, god of the dead and riches
Ruler of the underworld and lord of the dead. Despite his fearsome reputation, Hades was not evil — he was stern, just, and rarely left his dark kingdom.
Hades
⚡ godGod of the dead and lord of the underworld
Hades was the lord of the underworld who received the dead — feared but not evil, wealthy from earth's minerals, and far more just than his brothers.
Hermes
⚡ godGod of travellers, thieves, and communication
Hermes was the messenger god, guide of souls, patron of travellers and thieves — the most versatile and likeable Olympian, born cunning.
Charon
⚡ godFerryman of the dead
Charon was the grim ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx into the underworld — but only if they had been properly buried with a coin for his fare.
Hermes
⚡ godMessenger of the gods, commerce, thieves, travelers, boundaries
The swift messenger of the gods and guide of souls to the underworld. Hermes was the cleverest of the Olympians, patron of merchants and thieves alike.
Underworld
🏛 placeRealm of the dead
The Underworld was the vast subterranean realm where all mortal souls went after death — a geography of rivers, fields, and judges more detailed than any other mythological afterlife.
Hades
⚡ godKing of the dead
The ruler of the Underworld who received the dead, guarded by Cerberus and feared so deeply that Greeks avoided speaking his name.
God of the Underworld
💭 conceptDeath, the dead, underground riches
Hades governs the realm of the dead, ruling over every soul that crosses the river Styx.
Acheron
🏛 placeRiver of Woe in the underworld
The Acheron was the River of Woe in the underworld, which the dead had to cross — in some traditions it was Charon's river rather than the Styx.
Hades
🏛 placeUnderworld geography
The vast underground kingdom of the dead ruled by the god Hades and his queen Persephone
Nekyia
💭 conceptunderworld, ritual
Odysseus's ritual summoning of the dead in Book 11 of the Odyssey, where he speaks with ghosts at the edge of the Underworld to learn the way home.
Styx
🏛 placeThe river of the underworld
The great river that formed the boundary between the world of the living and the realm of the dead. Oaths sworn on the Styx were absolutely binding, even for gods.