After Maia had given birth she wrapped her new born baby in blankets and went back to sleep; however as soon as Maia’s eyes fell closed the young god squirmed free and escaped. He entered the land where his brother, Apollo, grazed his cattle. Hermes stole a number of sheep and cows and drove them in to Greece where he hid them and returned, covering his tracks as he went.

On his journey home the young Hermes came across a turtle, which he promptly picked up and dissected. He removed the entrails and using the hollow shell, along with some cow intestines he created a harp like instrument, called the lyre.

On his return to the cave, he hid the lyre and re-wrapped himself in the blankets. When the morning came, Apollo was furious with Hermes, and complained vehemently at Maia. She defended Hermes saying that he couldn’t have left as he was still wrapped in his blankets. Still Apollo was angry, that was until he heard the sweet sound of the lyre. Immediately Apollo was enchanted and Hermes gave the Lyre to his brother as a gift and compensation for the cattle he stole. Hermes and his ability to steal from Apollo made him a god for thieves.

However Hermes was not only known for his light fingers and musical instruments, he was better known as the messenger for the gods and a “psycho pomp“, one who leads the dead to the underworld. Hermes was also a god involved in online gambling, good luck and fortune, which he brought to many who sought his counsel. It was to him that gamblers, players and whoever was on the point of taking up a challenge, a game, or a contest.

Hermes went in fact to represent the introduction of the element of risk into society.In the early years of civilization, men felt helpless in front of risks. It was the caprice of Gods who could ruin a year’s work with a sudden tempest a few days before the crop.

But eventually, taking risk became a necessary element for human improvement. Merchants in ancient times embody the human type who accepted high risks (such as those involved in ancient navigation) in exchange of the high profits (such as those that commerce offered).

It is not a coincidence that Hermes was God of merchants. According to legend he spread the theory to merchants, helping them to make educated risks and to succeed. The Roman Empire would not have been as powerful and developed as it was if it wasn’t for people taking risks; emperors taking political risks, merchants taking risks exploring new lands and bringing home new treasures, army generals creating battle strategies filled with risk! Risk taking was so very important to the prosperity of the Empire.

Today our lives are filled with risk, everyday we make choices, we take risks in order to proceed and succeed and it is in our very nature to gamble. If we did not gamble, we would be stuck, unable to evolve. In all risk taking and gambling are extremely important to development and can be very fun and extremely exciting at the same time and whatever the outcome, you will always have gained something, whether it be fortune, knowledge, power or experience - you’re always a winner.

So do as the Romans did …… take a risk you can only succeed!