MERCURY--HERMES.
_Ques._ Who was Mercury?
_Ans._ He was the son of Jupiter and Ma´ia, the daughter of Atlas. On
his mother's account, sacrifices were generally offered to him during
the month of May.
_Ques._ How is Mercury represented?
_Ans._ As a young man of cheerful countenance, having wings fixed to
his helmet and his sandals, and carrying a rod in his hand, which is
also winged, and entwined with serpents.
_Ques._ How are these different equipments named?
_Ans._ The rod was called Cadu´ceus, and possessed a wonderful faculty
for quieting all disputes. His helmet was called Pet´asus, and his
winged sandals Talaria.
_Ques._ What were the offices of Mercury?
_Ans._ They were various; his most important function was to carry the
commands of Jupiter. Mercury is commonly called the messenger of the
gods. He also swept the room where the gods supped, and made their
beds.
_Ques._ What else is said of Mercury?
_Ans._ He was the inventor of letters, and excelled in eloquence. The
Greeks worshipped him as the patron of orators, under the name of
Hermes. Mercury was also the inventor of weights and measures, and the
patron of commerce.
_Ques._ Were all his talents equally honorable?
_Ans._ No; he was most skillful in the art of thieving. On the very
day of his birth, he stole some cattle from King Admetus, although
Apollo was keeping them; and while that god was bending his bow
against him, he contrived to steal his quiver. While yet an infant, he
stole the tools of Vulcan, the girdle of Venus, and the sceptre of
Jupiter. He intended also to steal Jove's thunderbolts, but was
fearful they would burn him. Mercury was, therefore, the patron of
thieves.
_Ques._ Relate the history of Io and Argus.
_Ans._ Io, the daughter of In´achus, was beloved by Jupiter. He strove
to hide her from the anger of Juno by transforming her into a cow. The
goddess suspected the deceit, and begged the beautiful heifer as a
gift. Jupiter was afraid to refuse, and Juno consigned the unhappy Io
to the guardianship of Argus. Escape seemed hopeless, as Argus had a
hundred eyes, of which he closed only two in sleep, while the others
watched. Jupiter commanded Mercury to slay Argus and deliver Io. To
effect this, it was necessary to set all his eyes to sleep. Mercury
disguised himself as a shepherd, entered into conversation with
Argus, and at length played so sweetly on his pipe, that, one by one,
the keeper's hundred eyes were closed. The god then drew his falchion,
and cut off the head of Argus with a single blow. Juno was grieved for
her servant, and placed his eyes in her peacock's tail. Io, still
persecuted by Juno, wandered over the earth, and at length arrived,
faint and weary, on the banks of the Nile. There she prayed Jupiter
either to restore her to her original form, or to terminate her
misfortunes by death. Juno was touched with compassion, and allowed
Jupiter to grant her request. Io was restored to human form, and
married to Osiris, king of Egypt; she was afterwards worshipped in
that country under the name of Isis.
The statues of Mercury were simply wooden posts, surmounted by a rude
head with a pointed beard. They were set up in the fields, and at all
cross roads. The Greeks had pillars of stone, which they called Hermæ,
but the head which surmounted them was not always that of Mercury.
These pillars were sometimes placed, by the Athenians, at the
entrances of their houses as a protection against thieves. On one
occasion, all the Hermæ in Athens were mutilated in the same night.
Alcibiades was accused of this sacrilege, and was obliged to take
refuge in Cergos from the indignation of the people.