Apollo's lyre
In the 'Homeric Hymn to Hermes', Hermes creates the lyre, a musical instrument, and then moves on to stealing Apollo's cows. Apollo works out that Hermes had been the culprit and confronts him. Zeus decides that Hermes, who is still a child at the time, should show Apollo where his cows are hidden. Apollo follows and is shown the lyre being played by Hermes. Apollo falls in love with the music that is produced and exclaimed that this instrument is worth fifty cows. Hermes gives Apollo the lyre and names him God of Music.
Apollo
Hermes
Zeus
Baby Hermes invents the lyre
Hermes was born to Maia, the daughter of Atlas. As soon as Hermes was born, he slipped outside of Maia's cave and came across a tortoise. With the tortoise shell he created the first lyre, a musical instrumental that produces harmonious melodies.
Trickster Hermes
Hermes had grown tired of testing out his new invention, and his thoughts wandered to the divine cows of Apollo. He tracked the herd down to the mountains of Pieria. An old man witnessed Hermes passing by and so Hermes asked him to 'remember' that Hermes was never there... He ingeniously fashioned some sandals to hide his footprints, and reversed the hoof prints of the cattle so that their whereabouts could not be traced. He cooks the cattle in order to eat them, but contents himself with the smell of the cooked divine meat instead. He covers his traces and makes his way back home to his cradle in Maia's cave.
Apollo confronts Hermes
Maia does not fall for Hermes' attempt of pretending to sleep. She is very angry but Hermes talks the talk and persuades her that he is only trying to increase their standing and will eventually care for her on Mount Olympus with the Olympian Gods. Apollo then tracks down Hermes, and announces that he will throw Hermes into the deep abyss of Tartarus unless he gives away the location of his cattle. Hermes snidely replies that Apollo would be embarrassed if the other Gods hear that his cows have been stolen by a mere infant! They take the matter to Zeus, and Hermes cleverly talks his way out of trouble, with Zeus laughing at his quick-witted responses. He does take Apollo to the location of where the cows are hidden, but distracts him by playing the harmonic lyre. Apollo is so enraptured that he settles the matter by obtaining the lyre from Hermes as Apollo's symbolic instrument. Hermes is not too bothered as he makes a new instrument, the panpipes. The story ends pleasantly as Apollo names Hermes the appointed messenger to the underworld.