Ave!

Mercury, Statuette, ca 1st-3rd Cent, Rare!

Copper alloy; 60mm/28.0gm

Con/ Missing arm, hand, both feet and lower caduceus staff, otherwise, As Cast. Deep bronze patina.

Description/ Mercury nearly nude, wearing hat and cloak, and holding Double Caduceus in right hand.

Mercury is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery, and thieves; he also serves as the guide of souls to the underworld. Similar to his Greek equivalent Hermes, he was awarded a magic wand by Apollo, which later turned into the caduceus, the staff with intertwined snakes.

In Ovid's Fasti, Mercury is assigned to escort the nymph Larunda to the underworld. Mercury, however, falls in love with Larunda (of course!), and makes love to her on the way. Larunda thereby becomes mother to two children, referred to as the Lares, the invisible household gods.

Seller's Note/ You all understand that this statuette is remarkably rare, right? After nearly 2000 years in the earth and 20th Century plowing, it is amazing that it it is still in such excellent condition despite the breakage. Undoubtedly this statuette was placed in a shrine of a provincial villa of a very wealthy man who prayed that the Lares and his invisible household gods would bless him and and all his endeavors.

NRC has had this awesome Mercury statuette on its stand, gracing our office for too many years and we think that it's time to pass it on to another.

Vale!