Angels-HERMES

One of the most important precursors of the modern-day notion of
angel-as-messenger was the Greek Hermes (whose characteristics were
later adopted by the Romans and attributed to the god Mercury), chief
messenger of Zeus (the Roman Jupiter). As well as the god of science
and commerce, Hermes was a god of good luck who protected people on
journeys and led the spirits of the departed to the afterlife. He was also
the patron divinity of merchants and thieves. Further, Hermes is said to
have invented the lyre by stringing cords of linen through holes bored
in a tortoise shell. There were nine cords in honor of the nine Muses.
Hermes was traditionally represented as wearing a hat with wings
as well as sandals with wings, and thus, became one of the classical
sources of the conventional assumption that God’s messengers wore
wings.