Roman Gods index

Mercury


Title: Messenger of the gods

Greek name: Hermes

Day of the Week: Wednesday

Solar system: planet Mercury
Relations: Son of Jupiter
Son of Maia

English words: Mercury or Quicksilver is a liquid metal.
Mercurial means light-hearted and active.
Mercury

Mercury

Mercury was the god of travellers. He had a winged hat and sandals, so he could fly. He carried a staff which also has wings and two snakes winding round it.

He was also the god of thieves. When he was only a few days old, he stole the cows of Apollo. Mercury made special shoes for the cows and made them walk backwards, so no-one could follow their tracks. Eventually Apollo noticed that Mercury was playing a new musical instrument called a lyre, strung with cow-gut and worked out that Mercury had stolen his cows. Apollo was furious with Mercury, but thought the lyre was wonderful. So they agreed that Mercury could keep the cows and Apollo would get the lyre.

Mercury was also the god of science and business. I think that he's the god of the Internet as well!

Mercury