Mercury
Mercurius is the Roman god of trade, gain and the market before he is anything else: his temple stood in the Circus Maximus, the merchants' guild kept him as patron, and the Ides of May was his day, when the dealers sprinkled their wares with water from his well.
Mercurius is not simply a Latin Hermes: he is attested first as a god of trade and profit (lucrum), and the herald, the psychopomp and the thief are Greek additions that arrived with the identification. The cattle theft, the lyre and the caduceus are Greek stories. The id mercury_roman keeps this entry distinct from the planet id mercury.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Mercury
Offerings
- Offerings
- CoinsWineIncenseHoneyMilkWater at the crossroads
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- MercuriusMercurius Mercator
- Gender Expression
- Masculine
- Titles
- God of Trade and GainThe HeraldBearer of the CaduceusGuide of SoulsPatron of the MarketLord of the Crossroads
- Symbols
- CaduceusPurseWinged sandalsCockerelCrossroads
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneQuick bargainAddressMercuriusThe HeraldBearer of the CaduceusRelationshipThe god you do business withWarningHe will carry your word exactly as you said itResonanceMerchants travellers writers those crossing over
- Modern Practice
Mercurius is called on to open a market, to carry a message, and to keep a bargain honest in both directions. His practice is small and precise: the coin set aside, the word kept, the road walked.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- TradeProfitMerchantsThe marketEloquenceTravelMessagesThieveryPsychopomp
- Mythology Summary
Mercurius is the Roman god of trade, gain and the market before he is anything else: his temple stood in the Circus Maximus, the merchants' guild kept him as patron, and the Ides of May was his day, when the dealers sprinkled their wares with water from his well. The herald's staff, the winged sandals and the office of guiding the dead came to him with the Greek Hermes, with whom he was identified early. He is the god of the deal and of the road the deal travels on.
Details
- Secondary Planets
- Moon
- Correspondences
- ColorsOrangeYellowGreySilverScentsMasticLavenderMintMetalsMercurySilverAnimalsSnakeRooster
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