Hermes was the most miserable of the gods, as he complained to his mother. When all the immortals were still in bed, he had to sweep the dining-room, lay the table, and pour out the nectar. Along with the living, he had to take care of the dead as well, escorting their souls to the Underworld. But his greatest misery was his duties as Zeus’s messenger. He was forced to run all day long to carry Zeus’ messages to the many women he had fallen in love with in Greece and abroad. Hermes thought mortal slaves were better off than he was since they could always hope that they would be sold to a new master.