Mercury (mythology) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mercury |
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| God of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication, travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery, merchants, thieves | |
| Member of the Dii Consentes | |
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Mercurius by Artus Quellinus the Elder
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| Planet | Mercury |
| Symbol | Caduceus, winged sandals, winged hat, tortoise, ram and rooster |
| Day | Wednesday (dies Mercurii) |
| Personal information | |
| Consort | Larunda |
| Children | Lares |
| Parents | Maia and Jupiter or Caelus and Dies (Cicero and Hyginus) |
| Greek equivalent | Hermes |
| Etruscan equivalent | Turms |
Mercury ( Latin: Mercurius) is a major god in Roman religion and mythology. He is one of the 12 most important gods in the ancient Roman pantheon.
He is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery, and thieves; he also serves as the guide of souls to the underworld.
Origins
In Roman mythology, he was considered to be either the son of Maia, one of the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas, and Jupiter, or of Caelus and Dies.
He is often depicted holding the caduceus in his left hand. Similar to his Greek equivalent Hermes, he was awarded a magic wand by Apollo, which later turned into the caduceus, the staff with intertwined snakes.
Etymology
The name "Mercury" is possibly related to the Latin words merx ("merchandise"; cf. merchant, commerce, etc.), mercari (to trade), and merces (wages); another possible connection is the Proto-Indo-European root merĝ- for "boundary, border" (cf. Old English "mearc", Old Norse "mark" and Latin "margō ") and Greek οὖρος (by analogy of Arctūrus/Ἀρκτοῦρος ), as the "keeper of boundaries," referring to his role as bridge between the upper and lower worlds.
History
Mercury appeared as god around the 4th century BC. From the beginning, he had the same aspects as Hermes, wearing winged shoes (talaria) and a winged hat (petasos), and carrying the caduceus, a herald's staff with two entwined snakes that was Apollo's gift to Hermes. He was often accompanied by a rooster, herald of the new day, a ram or goat, symbolizing fertility, and a tortoise, referring to Mercury's legendary invention of the lyre from a tortoise shell.
Like Hermes, he was also a god of messages, eloquence and of trade, particularly of the grain trade. He was the patron of travelers and the god of thievery as well. Mercury was also considered a god of abundance and commercial success. He was also, like Hermes, leading newly deceased souls to the afterlife. Additionally, Ovid wrote that Mercury carried Morpheus' dreams from the valley of Somnus to sleeping humans.
Archeological evidence from Pompeii suggests that Mercury was among the most popular of Roman gods. The god of commerce was depicted on two early bronze coins of the Roman Republic.
Temple
Mercury's temple in Rome was situated in the Circus Maximus, between the Aventine and Palatine Hills, and was built in 495 BC.
The dedication occurred on 15 May, 495 BC.
The temple was regarded as a fitting place to worship a swift god of trade and travel, since it was a major center of commerce as well as a racetrack. Since it stood between the plebeian stronghold on the Aventine and the patrician center on the Palatine, it also emphasized the role of Mercury as a mediator.
Worship
Mercury did have his own major festival, on 15 May, the Mercuralia. During the Mercuralia, merchants sprinkled water from his sacred well near the Porta Capena on their heads.
In popular culture
Mercury features in the first published comic book story of Jack Kirby, Mercury in the 20th Century, published in Red Raven Comics 1, 1940.
The United States' so-called Mercury dime, issued from 1916 to 1945, actually features a Winged Liberty and not the god Mercury, but despite wearing a Phrygian cap instead of a winged helm, the coin bears his name due to resemblance.
Mercury is one of the playable gods in the third-person multiplayer online battle arena game Smite.
See also
In Spanish: Mercurio (mitología) para niños
