As the chief messenger of the gods, Mercury controlled the movement of all things—goods, ideas, words, and people. Mercury was usually depicted in a nude, beardless youth, though he occasionally wore a short tunic and a cloak fastened around his neck. He wore winged shoes and flew with the help of a winged helm that Vulcan , the god of forge and fire, had fashioned for him.
This winged helm soon became synonymous with the messenger god. Mercury also carried the caduceus, a staff wound with serpents that was gifted to him by Apollo.
Mercury was swift and clever, and his knowledge of major events often bordered on foresight. Mercury was the child of Jupiter , king of gods, and Maia, a nymph and one of the daughters of Atlas, who were known as the Pleiades. Though Mercury was the only child of that union, he had many half-siblings by way of Jupiter. Among them were Vulcan, the god of forge and fire, Minerva , the goddess of wisdom and forethought, and Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres who was abducted by Pluto and taken to the underworld.
Like their father, the Lares served as guardians of the crossroads. As the Roman version of Hermes, Mercury was known for his other lovers too. Later in life, Hermaphroditos would merge his body with that of his female lover, thus becoming a single entity with both male and female genitalia.
In Greek mythology , Mercury took male lovers as well, including the hero Perseus. Due to his late entry into the Roman pantheon, Mercury lacked a proper origin myth. He emerged in the mythological tradition as a freewheeling personality who produced as many problems as he solved. In this cruelly humorous story, an old peasant named Battus caught the trickster god in a compromising situation. One day, Mercury stole a herd of cattle and hid them in a nearby forest.
Battus, meanwhile, watched the scene unfold from across the field. Seeing that Battus knew his secret, Mercury made him swear never to speak of the incident and to claim ignorance if anyone asked. Battus agreed. Though Mercury took his leave, his trickery had just begun.
Maia woke to the sight of Mercury wrapped in his swaddling blanket and Apollo accusing him of stealing his cattle. Eventually, Jupiter stepped in to reveal he had watched Mercury steal the cattle and ordered their return. During the night, Mercury had fashioned a lyre from cattle intestines and began playing beautiful music. This inspired Apollo to ask for a trade of the cattle for the lyre. In most portrayals, Mercury is shown as a youthful god of Rome who is clean-shaven and is often little more than a child.
Mercury is depicted in Roman artworks as wearing a helmet and sandals with attached wings that reflect his speed and position as the messenger of the gods. The son of Jupiter is also the god of commerce, leading him to being shown in some sculptures and paintings holding a purse. There are many symbols associated with Mercury, including his winged cap and sandals that reflect the speed of the Roman god. Mercury is often depicted as carrying a staff, which was a symbol the members of his cult added to their daily lives.
Mercury is associated with many animals, including the tortoise that played a role in his first day of life. Mercury used the shell of a tortoise to fashion the lyre he would trade for the cattle of Apollo.
The tortoise would become a common symbol of Mercury throughout Roman culture and be accompanied by his close links to the ram and the rooster. The rooster is the symbol of the new day that is brought by Mercury as a messenger of the gods. The ram is a symbol of fertility for the Roman people and is often seen with Mercury in stories and artworks.
He is most well-known for his role as a messenger to the gods. Interestingly, the role of the messenger also included the task of conducting the passage of individuals from Rome to the underworld when they died. Mercury is also one of the most duplicitous gods in Roman culture. He is known for his trickery and ability to cheat people out of their belongings. Mercury plays a role in many myths. As noted above, he is said to have stolen cattle and a bow and arrow when just a child.
In the myth of Cupid and Psyche, he is called upon by Jupiter to make a proclamation demanding the capture of Psyche. The poet Horace wrote of him in his Odes. In fact, Horace called himself mercurialis, meaning a lyric poet protected by Mercury.
Myths about Mercury. Quick Comparison: Ancient Greeks vs. Ancient Romans. Achievements, Contributions - Concrete, Aquaducts, and more. Ancient Rome Five Themes of Geography.
Ancient Roman Religion, Festivals, Holidays. Ancient Rome Activities and Projects. Jupiter was the king of all the gods. Mercury was his youngest son.
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