Mercury (Latin: MERCVRIVS "Mercurius") is a major god in Roman religion and mythology, being one of the 12 Dii Consentes within 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.
He was considered the son of Maia, who was a daughter of the Titan Atlas, and Jupiter in Roman mythology.
Etymology[]
His name is possibly related to the Latin word 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.
Origin[]
In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms; both gods share characteristics with the Greek god Hermes. He is often depicted holding the caduceus in his left hand. Similar to his Greek equivalent Hermes, he was awarded the caduceus by Apollo who handed him a magic wand, which later turned into the caduceus.
Portrayal[]
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Mythology[]
Syncretism and Epithets[]
The Romans met many people groups and their deities, like the Celts, Germanics, and even Afro-asiatic peoples like the Semitic peoples and the Egyptians, therefore their deities have been conflated to their own various Roman deities via Interpretatio Romana, they do this conflation by giving the Roman deities epithets based on the local deities that normally doesn't have a Roman origin and Mercury was prolific with the amount of his synchronicities with other deities.
- Mercurius Artaios: Mercury identified with the Celtic God Artarios, a deity of bears and hunting who was worshipped in Beaucroissant, France.
- Mercurius Arvenus: A syncretism between Mercury with the Celtic God Arvernus, that was mainly worshipped in the Rhineland.
- Mercurius Ter Maximus: The syncretism of Mercury with the Egyptian God Thoth, and the Greek Hermes Trismegistus.
- Mercurius Cimbrianus: The Roman Mercury identified with the god of the Cimbri, who scholars think is Wotan.
- Mercurius Cissonius: A fusion between Mercury with the Celtic God Cissonius, mainly worshipped both in Germany and France.
- Mercurius Esibraeus: Mercury syncretized with a Iberian deity Banda Isibraiegus, however this deity is just only mentioned in an inscription found at Medelim, Portugal, therefore it's unknown if Mercurius Esibraeus was widely worshipped in Spain too.
- Mercurius Gebrinius: syncretized with Gebrinius that is a deity of an unclear origin.
- Mercurius Moccus: the Celtic Moccus equated with Mercury, his cult was in Langres, France.
- Mercurius Sobrius ("Mercury the Teetotaler"): Mercury identified as an unknown deity from Carthage.
- Mercurius Visucius: A combination of Mercury with the Celtic God Visucius, additionally Vissucius also was identified with Mars by Romans.
In Popular Culture[]
Television[]
- Mercury appears in Supernatural's episode Hammer of the Gods. He is portrayed by John Emmet Tracy.
Comics[]
- Mercury appears on the first issue of DC Comic's The New 52's second wave title Earth 2. He appears aiding his daughter Wonder Woman. Mercury appears using his trademark weapon; the Caduceus.
- The Superhero Shazam got his powers via six heroes, Mercury being one of them, as the M in the name of Shazam is the Speed of Mercury.
Astrology[]
- The planet Mercury was named in his honor.
Gallery[]
See also[]
- Anubis
- Hermanubis
- Hermes
- Hermes Trismegistus
- Nabu
| Roman mythology articles | |
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| Locations | Rome |
| Topics | Titanomachy |