Hermes, the messenger of the gods, was charming and likable — if not always well behaved. Mischievous and roguish, Hermes often played tricks to demonstrate his cunning, yet the gods still trusted him with many important missions. A versatile god of many talents, he created inventions that advanced civilization, from numbers to musical instruments, and he was the patron god of diverse groups, including travelers, inventors, liars, thieves, and athletes.