Cult of Mercury
The Cult of Mercury is a fictional organization of magicians that pre-dates the Order of Hermes.
A French version of this page is available: Culte de Mercure
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 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 (5th 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, 13th 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 Houses of Hermes: Societates.
Mercurian priests (flamines, singular flamen) are often respected in Hermetic Society, for tradition if nothing else, and perform various ceremonial duties.
In Previous Editions
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.
References
- 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)
Legacy Page
The history of this page before August 6, 2010 is archived at Legacy:cult_of_mercury