His cult was established in Greece in remote regions, likely making him originally a god of nature, farmers, and shepherds. It is also possible that since the beginning he has been a deity with shamanic attributes linked to divination, reconciliation, magic, sacrifices, and initiation and contact with other planes of existence, a role of mediator between the worlds of the visible and invisible.Danubian Historical Studies, 2, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1988, p. 32. According to a theory that has received considerable scholarly acceptance, Hermes originated as a form of the god Pan, who has been identified as a reflex of the Proto-Indo-European pastoral god *Péh2usōn,H. Collitz, "Wodan, Hermes und Pushan," Festskrift tillägnad Hugo Pipping pȧ Hans sextioȧrsdag den 5 November 1924 1924, pp 574–587. in his aspect as the god of boundary markers. The PIE root *peh2 "protect" also shows up in Latin pastor "shepherd" (whence the English pastoral). A zero grade of the full PIE form — *ph2usōn — yields the name of the Sanskrit psychopomp Pushan, who, like Pan, is associated with goats.Beekes, R. (2006) Etymological Dictionary of Greek p. 600 Later, the epithet supplanted the original name itself and Hermes took over the role of psychopomp and as god of messengers, travelers, and boundaries, which had originally belonged to Pan, while Pan himself continued to be venerated by his original name in his more rustic aspect as the god of the wild in the relatively isolated mountainous region of Arcadia. In later myths, after the cult of Pan was reintroduced to Attica, Pan was said to be Hermes's son.
his cult was established in greece in remote regions likely making him originally a god of nature farmers and shepherds it is also possible that since the beginning he has been a deity with shamanic attributes linked to divination reconciliation magic sacrifices and initiation and contact with other planes of existence a role of mediator between the worlds of the visible and invisibledanubian historical studies 2 akadémiai kiadó 1988 p 32 according to a theory that has received considerable scholarly acceptance hermes originated as a form of the god pan who has been identified as a reflex of the proto-indo-european pastoral god *péh2usōnh collitz "wodan hermes und pushan" festskrift tillägnad hugo pipping pȧ hans sextioȧrsdag den 5 november 1924 1924 pp 574–587 in his aspect as the god of boundary markers the pie root *peh2 "protect" also shows up in latin pastor "shepherd" (whence the english pastoral) a zero grade of the full pie form — *ph2usōn — yields the name of the sanskrit psychopomp pushan who like pan is associated with goatsbeekes r (2006) etymological dictionary of greek p 600 later the epithet supplanted the original name itself and hermes took over the role of psychopomp and as god of messengers travelers and boundaries which had originally belonged to pan while pan himself continued to be venerated by his original name in his more rustic aspect as the god of the wild in the relatively isolated mountainous region of arcadia in later myths after the cult of pan was reintroduced to attica pan was said to be hermes's son