Question about the etymology of "mercury"
- Thread starter AH020387
- Start date
Actually the metal was named after the planet: originally (in Greek times) the planet was called (referred to) as "Hermes"; it was latinized later to "Mercurius"; the metal was given that name by the Romans (who had converted Hermes into Mercurius) The planet had other names prior to the time of the Greeks (such as in ancient Egypt, and also in Babylon, as well as in Vedic India)
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
The element was named after the planet and in fact BOTH the planet Mercury AND the element Mercury are named after the Mythical character 'Mercury, Messenger of the Gods'
80 word extract sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(element)
QUOTE:
"Mercury or 'Quick Silver' is molten at room temperatures and flows quickly so the ancients named it after the fast moving Roman pantheon messenger of the gods 'Mercury'.
The element Mercury was also called 'quicksilver' and 'Hydrargyrum' (Greek for watery or liquid silver and the reason why its chemical symbol is Hg). Early alchemists connected the metal with the name of the planet for its speed and mobility, and the astrological sign for Mercury was also used for the metal"