Hermes' Legendary Cattle Heist

Hermes pulled off history's greatest heist on his first day of life—stealing Apollo's entire

herd of sacred cattle. Welcome to Buff History, What should I cover next?

Ancient Greece, on Mount Cyllene, where the Olympian gods ruled and divine law was absolute.

Hermes, newborn son of Zeus, snuck out of his cradle at dawn and found Apollo's prized

cattle grazing unguarded. He reversed their hooves so the tracks led backward, making it impossible

to trace the theft back to him. When Apollo confronted him furiously, Hermes casually

invented the lyre from a tortoise shell and played music so beautiful Apollo forgave him

instantly. Zeus laughed so hard at his son's audacity he made Hermes the official