Mercury

**Mercury was known as the messenger god; he has winged sandals that made him a swift traveler. Upon his birth, he stepped out onto the earth, where he saw and turtle and killed it. Using the turtle shell, he invented the lyre. When he grew tired of playing music (he had taught himself how to play music), he stole Apollo's cattle and hid them. He told a nearby shephard, Battus, of what he did and told him to say nothing to no one about it. In a test, Mercury disguised himself and approached Battus, asking him about Apollo's cattle. Without hesitation, Battus disclosed to him the location of the cattle. Infuriated by the betrayal, Mercury transformed Battus into a stone. Upon's Jupiter's interference, Mercury surrendered the cattle back to Apollo.

In Egyptian folklore, Thoth possessed qualities similar to that of Mercury. Hermes is the Greek name for Roman Mercury.

Mercury engaged in many love affairs: one especially - Venus. However, Venus never returned the feelings for Mercury. One day, Mercury sent his eagle to steal one of the goddess' sandals. Mercury was not willing to return it until the goddess of love succumbed to his desires. Out of this Hermaphroditus was born (Hermes=Mercury in Greek Myth, Venus=Aphrodite in Greek Myth). Among the title of being the messenger god, Mercury's duty was to guide mortal travelers: he was to lead the dead down to Hades. In rare situations, he would lead the dead out of Hades, to return to the mortal realm.