Mercury of Stockstadt

TNMM 418

The wings on his head as well as the purse in his right hand identify the god as Mercury. He wears wings in his role as messenger of the gods and carries the purse as god of trade. With his left hand, he hold a small boy, around whom coils a snake. Perhaps this is Bacchus, the god of wine, who Mercury brought to the Nymphs to raise. A ram stands at the feet of the god.

Many votive inscriptions and statues of Mercury are found in Mithras temples. This is especially common in the Germanic-Gallic regions. One inscription even mentions a ’Deus Invictus Mithras Mercurius’ (Invincible God Mithras-Mercury), thus treating the two gods as equivalent.

Both Mercury and Mithras were seen as guides for the soul. Mercury was also the protector f themembers of the lowest grade of the Mithras Cult, who were known as ’Ravens’. One of the seven palanet gods was assigned to each of the seven grades of membership.

The rough workmanship on its revers shows that this figures originally stood before a wall; it would not have been visible from the rear.