previous next
Mercŭrĭus , ii, m., = Ἑρμῆς,
I.Mercury, the son of Jupiter and Maia, the messenger of the gods; as a herald, the god of dexterity; in speaking, of eloquence; the bestower of prosperity; the god of traders and thieves; the presider over roads, and conductor of departed souls to the Lower World: Mercurius a mercibus est dictus. Hunc etenim negotiorum omnium aestimabant esse deum, Paul. ex Fest. p. 124 Müll.; Cic. N. D. 3, 22 sq.; Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 72, § 185; id. Arat. 277; Caes. B. G. 6, 17; Verg. A. 4, 222; Hor. C. 1, 10, 1; Ov. F. 5, 663 sqq.: stella Mercurii, the planet Mercury: infra hanc autem stella Mercurii est, ea στίλβων appellatur a Graecis, Cic. N. D. 2, 20, 54; so, “stella Mercurii,id. Univ. 9; “also simply Mercurius,id. Rep. 6, 17, 17: “dies Mercurii or Mercuris,Wednesday, Inscr. Murat. 402, 7.—Appel. gen. plur.: “Mercuriorum,Tert. Spect. 1, 11 fin.
B. Transf., the withers of draught-cattle, between the neck and the back (post-class.), Veg. Vet. 2, 59; 4, 3.—
II. In partic.
A. Aqua Mercurii, a fountain in the via Appia, Ov. F. 5, 673.—
B. Tumulus Mercurii, near Carthago nova, Liv. 26, 44.—
C. Promontorium Mercurii, in Africa, in Zeugitana, near Carthage, now Capo Bon, Liv. 29, 27; Plin. 3, 8, 14, § 87.
hide Dictionary Entry Lookup
Use this tool to search for dictionary entries in all lexica.
Search for in
hide References (10 total)
  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (10):
    • Caesar, Gallic War, 6.17
    • Cicero, Against Verres, 2.5.185
    • Vergil, Aeneid, 4.222
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 29, 27
    • Livy, The History of Rome, Book 26, 44
    • Cicero, De Republica, 6.17
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 2.20
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 3.22
    • Ovid, Fasti, 5
    • Cicero, Timaeus, 9
hide Display Preferences
Greek Display:
Arabic Display:
View by Default:
Browse Bar: