The following is from a sepulchral urn found near Padua (Gruter. p. 297):
Abite hinc, pessimi fures, * * * vestro cum Mercurio petasato caduceatoque.
Another bas-relief in the Vatican[647], represents the story of the birth of Bacchus from Jupiter’s thigh. Thus the subject of it is very similar to that, which relates to the birth of Hercules, the infant being in each instance consigned to the care of Mercury. But the covering of Mercury’s head in these two cases is remarkably different, though from no other reason than the fancy of the artist. In the bas-relief now under consideration, Mercury holds the skin of a lynx or panther to receive the child. He wears the scarf or chlamys and cothumi. This was a very favorite subject with the ancients. It occurs on a superb marble vase with the inscription ΣΑΛΠΙΩΝ ΕΠΟΙΗΣΕ[648], and on one of Sir W. Hamilton’s fictile vases[649].
[647] Museo Pio-Clementino, tom. iv. tav. 19.
[648] Spon., Misc. Erud. Ant. § xi. art. 1.
[649] Vol. i. No. 8.
Figure 4. in [Plate X.] is from Hope’s Costume of the Ancients, vol. ii. pl. 175. The money-bag is in Mercury’s right hand.
In a painting found at Pompeii[650], Mercury is represented with wings (pinnulæ) on his petasus, though not very ancient, is also recognized in the Amphitryo of Plautus.
[650] Gell’s Pompeiana, London 1819, pl. 76.
Figure 5. in [Plate X.] is from the Marquis of Lansdowne’s marble bust, published by the Dilettanti Society[651]. In this beautiful bust the brim of the hat is unfortunately damaged.