Question

The Homeric Hymn to Hermes, which shows the baby Hermes outwitting his adult half-brother

Apollo over some cattle, may represent changing social mores in ancient Greece, i.e., the rise of middle-class merchants over upper-class landowners.

O True
O False

Answer 1

False. The Homeric Hymn to Hermes does not directly represent the rise of middle-class merchants over upper-class landowners. It focuses on Hermes' cunningness, which could be interpreted allegorically, but such a specific socio-economic interpretation is not explicitly stated within the hymn.

Step-by-step explanation:

False. The interpretation that the Homeric Hymn to Hermes represents the rise of middle-class merchants over upper-class landowners is speculative and not directly supported by the text itself. The Hymn primarily tells the mythological story of the god Hermes, focusing on his youthful cunning and trickery, specifically when he steals Apollo's cattle.

The ancient Greeks often used myths and the actions of gods to reflect aspects of human society, but assigning a specific social or economic allegory such as merchant class rising over the aristocracy is not explicitly found in the hymn. Rather, the myth captures aspects of Hermes’ character such as his cleverness, wit, and role as a mediator between the divine and mortal realms, often associated with commerce and transitions.