Infancy of Hermes. Probably the most precocious child in mythology, Hermes (Mercury) accomplished an array of feats in his first day of life. The most comprehensive account is given in the Homeric Hymn to Hermes.
     Soon after his birth, he emerged from the cave of his mother, Maia, killed a tortoise, and transformed its shell into the first lyre. He then ventured out into the world and stole fifty head of cattle from his half-brother Apollo’s herd, teaching the animals to walk backward and wearing sandals to mask his own steps in order to confound the herdsman-god. An old man, Battus, witnessed the event, but was bribed by Hermes to keep silent; Battus later told Apollo and, according to Ovid, was changed into a stone for his betrayal. Apollo confronted Hermes, who steadfastly pleaded his innocence. The two eventually agreed to appeal for judgment to Zeus, who arranged a truce. Reconciling their differences, Apollo presented Hermes with the caduceus (herald’s staff) and made him keeper of herds, and Hermes gave Apollo the lyre.
     In many postclassical treatments, Hermes is cited as stealing the herds of King Admetus of Pherae while Apollo, who served as the king’s mortal herdsman for a year, was guarding them. This appears to be a conflation of two different stories that were not originally related.