Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna: “Mercury”, bronze from Castelvetro, Selmi estate. 1st century BC-1st century ADMercury is the Roman god identified with the Greek Hermes, the astute messenger of the gods, son of Zeus, charged with acting as an intermediary between the world of men and that of the gods. He is the divinity who protects merchants and travellers. His attributes are the caduceus, the symbolic rod of heralds, the petasus, the wide-brimmed hat with wings, winged sandals and a bag, symbol of the profit made from mercantile activities.The statuette depicts the god in a resting position, with his legs crossed, leaning with his left arm on a support, now disappeared. He wears the winged petasus, and carries a short cloak wrapped around his shoulder and left arm; with his right hand he holds the bag, in his left he probably had the caduceus. It is a well-made bronze attributable to a Roman workshop of the early imperial age.Inv. ROM_1522
