Hermes of the Night, the chthonic psychopomp whose intervention in the underworld, however Olympian he might be, is justified on several counts. Death involves a crossing over, a passage, for which Hermes serves as guide. It is therefore him who leads men into the realm of the shades. His mobility qualifies him particularly well for this role. Guide, messenger, traveler, he is all of these things both amongst men on earth and amng the chthonic shadows. As Diaktoros, he ensures the passage from ne space to another. Death is a threshold, and Hermes helps to cross it. The coupling of Sleep and Death, "the one quiet and kind to mortals," but "the other with a heart of iron, and a brazen soul" (Hes. Th. 762-66), lends an ambiguity to the position of Hermes as master of dreams.
Here there is a large statue of Hermes placed on the south wall of the chamber, ina small alcove. Hermes is depicted with the beautiful gold wand in his hands, with which he charms the eyes of men or wakens them, as he pleases. The rest of the chamber contains scenes of Hermes as Psychopompos and Oneiropompos.
Last modified: Sat Nov 6, 1999 / Jeremiah Genest