Mercury

Culture: Ancient Roman   Domain: Trade, travel, communication, boundaries

Mercury parallels Hermes and, fittingly for Rome's commercial empire, was especially honored as a god of merchants and trade; his name gives us "merchandise" and "commerce." His temple near the Circus Maximus served as a natural gathering point for the city's traders.

Associations

Trade and commerce, travel, communication, cleverness, boundaries.

Ways people honor him (modern)

• Approach business dealings with both cleverness and integrity
• Ask his favor before travel or a significant negotiation
• Keep coins or a small winged token on the altar
• Reflect on his temple's placement near Rome's great marketplace and circus

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.