Mercury (mythology)

Mercury isRoman god, also known asRoman godtrade, profitcommerce. His nameapparently derived fromLatin merx or mercator,merchant. Hevery similar toGreek god Hermes (which seemore details) andEtruscan Turms.

His temple onCircus Maximus, onAventine Hill, was built495 BC.

On May 15,Mercuralia was heldhis honor; merchants sprinkled water from his sacred well nearPorta Capena on their heads.

Mercury became extremely popular amongnationsRoman Empire conquered. The Celts equated himtheir main god Lugus,Germans equated himWodan.

He was called MercuriusLatinAlipes ("withwinged feet")