Mercury is the Roman God of money, wealth, trade, communication, eloquence, messages, divination, travellers, luck, trickery, boundaries, and thieves. He is also considered a psychopomp, in that he is also responsible for guiding the souls of the dead to the underworld, but his most well-known attribute is that of the messenger of the Gods.
He is the son of Maia, who herself is one of the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas, and the King God Jupiter.
It is thought that his name comes from the Latin word for 'merchandise'. Another interpretation involves his name being associated with 'boundary' or 'boarder', which could be a reference to his ability to help the souls of the dead cross over - effectively acting as a bridge between the worlds.
Mercury appeared later in the Roman pantheon, as the Roman religion became entwined with the Greek religion, and it is believed he took over the functions that were awarded to the Greek God Hermes. Like Hermes, Mercury was depicted as having winged shoes and a winged hat, and carrying a caduceus - a staff with two entwined snakes.
Like most Roman deities, Mercury also had many different epithets. Most of these were in relation to other deities, as it was common for the Roman's to synchronize the deities of those they invaded with their own, in order to appease the people they had conquered. Examples of this include Mercurius Artaios (Artaios being a deity of bears and hunting who was worshipped at Beaucroissant in France), Mercurius Avernus (with Avernus being a god worshipped in the Rhineland), and Mercurius Moccus (Moccus being a Celtic God from Langres, France).
He is the son of Maia, who herself is one of the seven daughters of the Titan Atlas, and the King God Jupiter.
It is thought that his name comes from the Latin word for 'merchandise'. Another interpretation involves his name being associated with 'boundary' or 'boarder', which could be a reference to his ability to help the souls of the dead cross over - effectively acting as a bridge between the worlds.
Mercury appeared later in the Roman pantheon, as the Roman religion became entwined with the Greek religion, and it is believed he took over the functions that were awarded to the Greek God Hermes. Like Hermes, Mercury was depicted as having winged shoes and a winged hat, and carrying a caduceus - a staff with two entwined snakes.
Like most Roman deities, Mercury also had many different epithets. Most of these were in relation to other deities, as it was common for the Roman's to synchronize the deities of those they invaded with their own, in order to appease the people they had conquered. Examples of this include Mercurius Artaios (Artaios being a deity of bears and hunting who was worshipped at Beaucroissant in France), Mercurius Avernus (with Avernus being a god worshipped in the Rhineland), and Mercurius Moccus (Moccus being a Celtic God from Langres, France).
A temple to Mercury was found in Rome, built in 495BC, in a place which was known as a major centre of commerce and trade for the Romans. Unlike several of the major Roman deities, Mercury did not have his own High Priest, given that he was added to the pantheon later. He did however have his own festival, which was held on the 15th of May and called the Mercuralia. It was believed that during Mercuralia, merchants would sprinkle water on their heads from a well which was sacred to Mercury, which was situated near the Porta Capena (a gate in the Servian wall in Rome).
As well as the winged shoes and the caduceus that are associated with Mercury, he was often depicted with a rooster, a ram or goat, and a tortoise. The rooster was said to be the herald of the new day, the ram/goat was said to represent fertility, and the tortoise as an association of the lyre, which Mercury was said to have created out of a tortoise shell.
Mercury is associated with Wednesdays, the element of air, and the colour blue.
As well as the winged shoes and the caduceus that are associated with Mercury, he was often depicted with a rooster, a ram or goat, and a tortoise. The rooster was said to be the herald of the new day, the ram/goat was said to represent fertility, and the tortoise as an association of the lyre, which Mercury was said to have created out of a tortoise shell.
Mercury is associated with Wednesdays, the element of air, and the colour blue.
