Mercury - Englewood, CO - Exact Replicas on Waymarking.com

This reproduction of Mercury is located at the apex of the MCI Plaza in Englewood, CO. This piece is a reproduction of Giovanni da Bologna's sculpture from 1580 found at the Bargello National Museum in Florence, Italy. Mercury was placed here as both a protector of merchants and travelers. He stands 13' (3.9 m) tall (excluding the base)and is of darkened brass and rather hard to photograph in harsh sunlight. (from MOA booklet, pg. 35, 2008)

"Giovanni da Bologna's famed "Flying Mercury" captures the Greek messenger of the gods speeding through the skies. Mercury is depicted wearing a winged petasus on his head and winged sandals which give him speed in flight. He carries the caduceus in his hand, the magic wand given to him by Apollo that has come to symbolizes the practice of medicine.

A bronze column of breath from Aeolus, the wind god, serves as a pedestal to propel Mercury upward and forward. Mercury points upward towards Jupiter in a contraposto (twist of the body) pose that is both elegant and powerful. With his knowledge of anatomy and exceptional artistic skill, it is no wonder that da Bologna's masterpiece originally sculpted in 1580 remains one of today's most cherished bronze artworks." (from (visit link) )

"Mercury; Latin: Mercurius was a messenger, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx ("merchandise"; compare merchant, commerce, etc.), mercari (to trade), and merces (wages). In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms, but most of his characteristics and mythology were borrowed from the analogous Greek deity, Hermes. Latin writers rewrote Hermes' myths and substituted his name with that of Mercury. However, there are at least two myths that involve Mercury that are Roman in origin. In Virgil's Aeneid, Mercury reminds Aeneas of his mission to found the city of Rome. In Ovid's Fasti, Mercury is assigned to escort the nymph Larunda to the underworld. Mercury, however, fell in love with Larunda and made love to her on the way; this act has also been interpreted as a rape. Larunda thereby became mother to two children, referred to as the Lares, invisible household gods." (from (visit link) )

Where is original located?: Bargello National Museum in Florence, Italy Where is this replica located?: MCI Plaza in Englewood, Colorado, USA Who created the original?: Giovanni da Bologna Internet Link about Original: http://www.sculpturegallery.com/sculpture/mercury.html Year Original was Created (approx. ok): 1580

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