Illustration
The God Mercury was one of the Dii Consentes (12 major deities in the Pantheon of ancient Rome; 6 gods and 6 goddesses). Mercury was the god of financial gain, commerce, messages, and travelers. Some altars are official offerings by military units. The inscriptions on this altar read "To the god Mercury; soldiers of the 6th Legion, Victorious, Dutiful, and Loyal; set up this shrine and statuette; citizens of Italy and Noricum; gladly, willingly, and deservedly fulfilled their vow." From Castlecary, Scotland, 2nd century CE. (National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK)
About the Author
Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world.
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