That is why the planet received this name - because it moves so quickly across the sky Mercury takes only 88 days to orbit the Sun.

Greek god name for mercury. His main job was to serve as the messenger of the gods. One of the best ways to understand Hermes is to look at the story of his birth. Indeed Apollo is the god of the Sun a central figure in mythological astronomy as well as the god of archery prophecy poetry and music.

Mercury was the son of Jupiter and Maia who was the daughter of the Titan god Atlas. In fact his name is derived from the Latin word merces meaning merchandise Mercury who is sometimes referred to as Mercurius was also lauded as the protector of merchants travelers and shopkeepers. When the planets were given names related to the gods back in the ancient days of Greek astronomy the fastest planet was named for.

Often identified with the Roman Mercury and with Casmilus or Cadmilus one of the Cabeiri. Mercury Hermes was a Greek god and one of the Twelve Olympians who lived on. He was often nude and was the only god in the Roman pantheon who could freely cross into the underworld.

His name derives from the Latin word merx meaning merchandise as Mercury was originally the Roman god of tradesmen and thieves. Hermes was the god of transitions and boundaries. Mercury Latin Mercurius in Roman religion god of shopkeepers and merchants travelers and transporters of goods and thieves and tricksters.

Hermes has a kerykeion caduceus kithara petasos round hat and a travelers cloak. According to myth he had a winged hat and sandals so he could fly. As a god he was the swiftest--nobody could get there faster than Hermes.

4 rows Roman name. Mercury Hermes was a Greek god and one of the Twelve Olympians who lived on Mount Olympus. He is commonly identified with the Greek Hermes the fleet-footed messenger of the gods.