Mercury is known to the Romans as Mercurius and occasionally in earlier writings as Merqurius, Mirqurios or Mircurios, had a number of epithets representing different aspects or roles, or representing syncretisms with non-Roman deities. Roman Mythology A god that served as messenger to the other gods and was himself the god of commerce, travel, and thievery. [7], Romans associated Mercury with the Germanic god Wotan, by interpretatio Romana; 1st-century Roman writer Tacitus identifies him as the chief god of the Germanic peoples. Mercury is liquid at room temperature and used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lighting, batteries and in the preparation of chemical pesticides. He … Omissions? Rather, he subsumed the earlier Dei Lucrii as Roman religion was syncretized with Greek religion during the time of the Roman Republic, starting around the 4th century BC. Element 80. The element was named after the Roman god Mercury, known for speed and mobility. [17], That year saw disturbances at Rome between the patrician senators and the plebeians, which led to a secession of the plebs in the following year. Mercury is portrayed as a youthful male that is androgynous in appearance. At the completion of its construction, a dispute emerged between the consuls Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis and Publius Servilius Priscus Structus as to which of them should have the honour of dedicating the temple. He was also believed to have invented all of the arts. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Updates? The element was known to ancient civilizations, dating back to at least 2000 BCE. Mercury usually refers to: . Mercury had many talents. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Mercury, with winged hat and staff, classical statue; in the Uffizi, Florence. During the Mercuralia, merchants sprinkled water from his sacred well near the Porta Capena on their heads. Mercury was the son of Jupiter (king of the gods), the result of an illicit union with Maia, goddess of … Old English "mearc", Old Norse "mark" and Latin "margō") and Greek οὖρος (by analogy of ArctÅ«rus/Ἀρκτοῦρος), as the "keeper of boundaries," referring to his role as bridge between the upper and lower worlds. Mercury. The symbol comes from Hydrargyrum, greek for water and silver, an older name for mercury. mercury roman god … Vials of pure mercury have been found in Egyptian tombs from the 1500s BCE. [citation needed]. [1] In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms; both gods share characteristics with the Greek god Hermes. Mercury's mother was Maia. The Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses is rife with forms that are attributed specific realms and duties. 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. Hermes Mythology. Artists, like followers of Roman religion themselves, freely borrowed the attributes of Hermes and portrayed Mercury also wearing winged sandals or a winged cap and carrying a caduceus (staff). I'm quite proud of this illustration as I made the … Mercury, however, falls in love with Larunda and makes love to her on the way. During the time of the Roman Empire the cult of Mercury was widely spread, especially among the Celtic and Germanic peoples. His name is related to the Latin word merx (“merchandise”; compare merchant, commerce, etc. He could fly faster than most of the other gods, partly because of his winged sandals. [18], The dedication occurred on 15 May, 495 BC. Mercury is also known as "quicksilver," a reference to its mobility and used as the physical symbol to represent the Azoth or fire-water in ancient alchemy. To mankind, he bequeathed the gift of language and mental acuity for learning and communication. The attributes of Mercury are the caduceus (a staff with two intertwined snakes) and a purse (a symbol of his connection with commerce). Corrections? This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mercury-Roman-god, Hermes - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Mercury - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). A relief found in Luxembourg indicates she was associated with healing as there is an inscription relating to the opening of a hospital. February 2021. The chemical symbol for Mercury is Hg. Mercury, with winged hat and staff, classical statue; in the Uffizi, Florence Alinari/Art Resource, New York Mercury, Latin Mercurius, in Roman religion, god of shopkeepers and merchants, travelers and transporters of goods, and thieves and tricksters. Mercury, a deity commonly associated with Hermes, is the messenger god. In Roman mythology Mercury was the god of trade and profit, merchants and travellers. [19], 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. magickal information and correspondences: Symbol: astrological symbol for the planet Mercury and the Roman deity Mercury was: or . Hermes In the Roman adaptation of the Greek pantheon, Hermes is identified with the Roman god Mercury, who, though inherited from the Etruscans, developed many similar characteristics, such as being the patron of commerce. The Planets: Mercury. Mercury also serves to guide people to the Underworld. Mercury’s chemical symbol, Hg, comes from the Greek “hydrargyrum” meaning liquid silver. The Roman God Mercury: Facts & Symbol 3:48 4:33 Next Lesson. Mercury was required for the transmutation of base (or impure) metals into gold. He is the god of communication, financial gain, eloquence, travelers, messages, boundaries, luck, thieves and trickery. [7], Archeological evidence from Pompeii suggests that Mercury was among the most popular of Roman gods. These are the symbols for the Greco / Roman god Hermes / Mercury. Its interior is composed of a huge iron core. Mercury's temple in Rome was situated in the Circus Maximus, between the Aventine and Palatine hills, and was built in 495 BC. Both Mercury and Maia were honoured in the Mercuralia festival on May 15, the dedication day of Mercury’s temple on the Aventine. He also guides souls out of the lower realms. The purse is a symbol of commercial success. Mercury, then, was “the merchant” or “the keeper of boundaries.” Larunda thereby becomes mother to two children, referred to as the Lares, invisible household gods. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [11], In his infamous contemporary fringe theories, Zecharia Sitchin identifies both Mercury and his namesake planet with Mummu, a character in the Enuma Elis creation epic.[12]. Mercury, in particular, was reported as becoming extremely popular among the nations the Roman Empire conquered; Julius Caesar wrote of Mercury being the most popular god in Britain and Gaul, regarded as the inventor of all the arts. 156,127,005 stock photos online. merchant, commerce, etc. ry (mûr′kyə-rē) n. 1. Considered by the Greeks to be the same God as the Kemetic (ancient Egyptian) Djehuti [Thoth]. This is thought to be partially molten, and acts like a dynamo generating Mercury's weak magnetic field. He was often accompanied by a rooster, herald of the new day,[5] a ram or goat, symbolizing fertility, and a tortoise, referring to Mercury's legendary invention of the lyre from a tortoise shell.
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