Cult of Mercury

The Cult of Mercury is a fictional organization of magicians that pre-dates the Order of Hermes.

The Ancient Cult

In ancient times, the Cult of Mercury was a mystical organization that served the pagan Roman Republic and Empire. The modern Order of Hermes sees itself as continuing in the mystical (though not religous) traditions of the Cult, with the modern Cult being an attempt at a more complete religous and magical revival - although the pagan gods are seen as anthropomorphized principles of nature and daimons.

The ancient Cult of Mercury fell apart about the same time as the Western Roman Empire did (5^th century A.D.).

In Mythic Europe, some scholars of magical history believe that the Cult of Mercury can trace its origins to even earlier cults of classical Greece and Persia.

Magic of the Ancient Cult

The ancient Cult of Mercury relied solely on what Hermetic magi would call ritual magic. It had the novel feature that its magic could be easily recorded in written form, which is perhaps why so many of the Founders practiced magic derived from that of the ancient cult.

The Modern Cult

In the modern (that is, 13^th Century) Order of Hermes, the Cult of Mercury is a Societas founded by Priamitus of House Mercere and led by Mercere Magi serving as high priests of Mercury/Hermes. Many of them reside in House Flambeau, as per HoHS.

Mercurian priests (flamines, singular flamen) are often respected in Hermetic Society, for tradition if nothing else, and perform various ceremonial duties.

References

• Ancient Cult of Mercury, ArM5 9
• HoHTL 95, HoHS 16.
• See also Cult of Heroes, Neo-Mercurians, Sol Invictus.
• Plentarch was a high priest of the ancient cult
• The Second Edition supplement Order of Hermes (p. 28-33)
• The Tempest, introduction

Legacy Page

The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:cult_of_mercury