Attributes of Mercury
60—79 CE.
Pompeii, Archaeological Park, House of the Vettii (VI. 15. 1. b)Photo by John R. Clarke
Attributes of Mercury.
60—79 CE.
Pompeii, Archaeological Park, House of the Vettii (VI. 15. 1. b)
(Pompei, Parco Archeologico, Casa dei Vettii (VI. 15. 1. b)).
Origin:
Excavated 1894-95.
Description:
A monochrome painting painted in cream over a porphyry red ground. The attributes of Mercury, the caduceus or wand wound with serpents and the petasus, or traveler’s hat, rest on a table. By the table is a vessel, possibly a crater or wine-mixing bowl. To the right a sheep looks at the table. Mercury is the god of commerce, and this representation of his attributes signals the Vettii brothers’ desire to stay on his good side.
John R. Clarke (2007)
According to Sogliano, the two black panels on the north wall also contained a small rectangular panel on a red background. This represented the attributes of Mercury, being a ram, and a vase, and placed on a table were the caduceus and the purse. Under the table, on the floor was a tortoise. See A. Sogliano, La Casa dei Vettii in Pompei, 1898, p. 237.
Credits:
© 2007. Photo, text: The house of the Vettii, Pompeii: an interactive visit — CD-ROM bundled with John R. Clarke, Roman Life: 100 B.C. to A.D. 200. Abrams, New York, 2007.
© 2004. Photo: John R. Clarke.
Add. information: https://pompeiiinpictures.org.
© 2004. Photo: John R. Clarke.
Add. information: https://pompeiiinpictures.org.
Keywords: ζωγραφικήί pictura ars picturae painting pittura malerei peinture φρεσκογραφία τοιχογραφία νωπογραφία wall fresco frescos frescoes opera parietale murale opere parietali murali affresco affreschi freskomalerei frischmalerei wandmalerei fresko fresken fresque fresques pintura mural ρωμαϊκές roman romana romano romani römisch römische römisches römischen römischer romain romaine romains romaines πομπηία pompeii pompeian pompei pompeiano pompeji pompeianischen pompejanischen pompéi pompéien domus vettiorum vettii vettius vettia house of the vi 15 1 casa dei haus der vettier maison des caduceo hermesstab merkurstab heroldsstab caducée kerykeion caduceus κηρύκειον κηρύκειο cup bowl coppa becher schale coupe petaso pétase petasos petasus πέτασος table tavolo tisch τραπέζι τράπεζα sheep sheeps pecora pecore schaf schafe mouton moutons πρόβατο πρόβατα purse borsellino geldbörse bourse monochrome monocromo in situ on red background su sfondo rosso fondo auf pompejanischem rotem hintergrund sur fond rouge tortoise tartaruga schildkröte tortue ram montone hammel bélier attribute attributes attributo attributi attribut attributs mercury b
