ABSTRACT
In addition to the movement of ideas and persons, Hermes is also granted oversight of the movement of tangible goods between persons, a position granted him as a result of his novel activities in the Fourth Homeric Hymn. Chapter 4 considers this significant position through the lens of various exchange types (positive, general and negative reciprocities) to show how Hermes’ statuses as ‘the giver-of-good’ and ‘the thief’ are each necessary components in the proper ordering of Zeus’ cosmos.
