Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautifully-preserved cast bronze statuette of the god Mercury (Hermes to the Greeks), shown here standing, holding a rooster in one hand and a caduceus in the other, his distinctive petasos (broad-brimmed hat) atop his curly hair. He is otherwise nude, portrayed as muscular and youthful, and shown in a dynamic pose, striding forward. Size: 1.65" W x 4" H (4.2 cm x 10.2 cm); 4.55" H (11.6 cm) on included custom stand. Mercury was one of the major Classical deities, the patron god of financial success and commerce, as well as eloquence and poetry. He was a trickster god, and he also acted as a psychopomp, leading souls to the underworld. Ovid wrote that Mercury also carried Morpheus's dreams from the valley of Somnus to sleeping humans. For these reasons, he came to be seen as the "keeper of boundaries," forming a bridge between the upper and lower worlds. He also fulfilled that role by acting as a messenger for the other gods. According to Caesar, he was the most popular god in Britain and Gaul, where he was syncretized with the Germanic god Wotan and considered to be the inventor of all arts. Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #137612