![]() In ancient China, it was used to prolong life and promote good health. Unfortunately, we now know that Mercury is extremely toxic to humans, and that Mercury poisoning occurs when there’s exposure to the metal. Mercury was used as a medical treatment in many ancient cultures, possibly because of its rarity, religious significance, and physical ability to transcend states. Other Associations of Mercury Mercury and Medicine Its simplified symbol is the god’s winged helmet and caduceus. It was represented by a serpent or snake as influenced by the god Mercury’s caduceus. It was often used in experiments that tried to create gold – one of the primary goals of alchemy. It was used in applications – both medical and symbolic – to prolong life or guide spirits after death.Īlchemists believed that Mercury was the first metal that all other metals were derived from. Because of Mercury’s ability to change between solid and liquid states, it was also thought of as being able to transcend between life, death, heaven, and earth. It was as much a philosophical practice as it was a scientific one, and often materials were ascribed with great power and meaning. See it here.Īlchemy is the medieval predecessor of modern chemistry. Mercury in Alchemy The alchemy sign for Mercury. Gaseous mercury is used in fluorescent lamps and streetlights, among other things. Mercury has been used to make many scientific instruments, such as thermometers. It’s also called quicksilver because of its liquid silver state at room temperature. Mercury has always been considered a significant metal. This is derived from the Greek word hydrargyros meaning water-silver. The symbol for the element is Hg, is short for the Latin word hydrargyrum. Interestingly, it’s the only element to retain its common alchemic name in modern chemistry. Mercury is an extremely rare element found in the earth’s crust. They are intellectually driven and clear communicators, like the messenger god from whom the planet gets its name. According to astrology, Gemini and Virgo signs are influenced most by the planet Mercury. In astrology and astronomy, the symbol for the planet mercury is the god’s winged helmet and the caduceus. The planet is also known as the evening star, as it is the first to appear on the horizon after sunset because of its proximity to the sun. It travels through space at 29 miles per second (Earth only moves at 18 miles per second) and takes only 88 days to orbit the sun. It was named after the Roman god of travel and speed because of how quickly it completes its orbit. Mercury is the first planet from the sun. So, why do we have a planet named Mercury? Like all the other planets in our Solar System, including the dwarf planet Pluto but excluding Earth, Mercury too was named after a Roman deity. This is why he was revered for his role to guide spirits of the dead to the underworld. Mercury was also the only God that could easily move between the realms of the dead, the mortals, and the Gods. But perhaps his most important symbol is the caduceus, his staff with two snakes entwined around it. He sometimes carried a lyre, which he’s credited with inventing, and a money purse which highlights his association with merchants. ![]() ![]() His winged helmet, called a petasos, emphasizes his role as a traveller. Mercury’s winged sandals gave him speed and the ability to move quickly.
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