Culte de Mercure

Le Culte de Mercure est une organisation fictive de magiciens qui précède l’Ordre d’Hermès.

L’Ancien Culte

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 religious) traditions of the Cult, with the modern Cult being an attempt at a more complete religious 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.

Magie de l’ancien Culte

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.

Le Culte moderne

Dans l’Ordre d’Hermès moderne (c’est-à-dire, au XIII^e siècle), le Culte de Mercure est une Societas fondée par Priamitus de la Maison Mercere et dirigée par des Mages Mercere servant comme grands prêtres de Mercure/Hermès. Nombre d'entre sont des résidents de la Maison Flambeau, selon Houses of Hermes: Societates .

Les prêtres de Mercure (flamines, singulier flamen) sont souvent respectés dans la Société hermétique, parce que rien ne vaut la tradition, et effectuent diverses tâches cérémonielles.

Dans les précédentes Éditions

Second Edition adventure The Tempest describes the Cult of Mercury in some detail, mainly on its Introduction. It claims that Bonisagus the Founder was originally a member of the Cult of Mercury and that its creation of Hermetic Magic was mainly a fusion of Mercurial Magic with Druidic Magic preserved by House Diedne.

Références

• Ancient Cult of Mercury, ArM5 9
• Houses of Hermes: True Lineages 95, Houses of Hermes: Societates 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 (pp. 6-8)