In philosophy, an attribute is a quality or property of a substance, as whiteness or hardness. A substance is known to us only as a congeries of attributes.
In the fine arts an attribute is a symbol regularly accompanying and marking out some personage. Thus the caduceus, purse, winged hat, and sandals are attributes of Mercury, the trampled dragon of St George. Research Attribute
A caduceus was originally an enchanters wand, and later a herald's staff. It is most familiar in the hands of Hermes. Its first form was three shoots, of which two were intertwined, while the third formed the handle. The fully- developed form has, besides the rod itself, a pair of wings either at the top or in the middle, and two serpents intertwined. Research Caduceus
Caduceus is the winged and serpent twisted staff or wand of Hermes. It was originally said to be a herald's staff of olive wood, but was afterwards fabled to have two serpents coiled about it, and two wings at the top. Research Caduceus
Hermes,called by the Romans Mercurius (Mercury), in Greek mythology was the son of Zeus and Maia, the daughter of Atlas. He was born in Arcadia, and soon after his birth left his cradle
and invented the lyre by stringing the shell of a tortoise with three or seven strings. The lyre, however, he resigned to Apollo, with whom it was ever after identified. Hermes also invented the Pandean pipe. The ancients represent Hermes as the herald and messenger of the gods. He conducted the souls of the departed to the lower world. He was the ideal embodiment of grace, dignity, and persuasiveness, but also of prudence, cunning, fraud, perjury, theft, and robbery. His cunning was frequently of service both to the gods and the heroes, and even to Zeus himself.
Later writers ascribe to him the invention of dice, music, geometry, letters, etc. He was worshipped in all the cities of Greece, but Arcadia was the chief place of his worship, his festivals being called Hermcea. In the monuments he is represented as in the flower of youth, or in the full power of early manhood. He often appears with small wings attached to his head and to his ankles. Among his symbols are the cock, the tortoise, a purse, etc, and especially his winged rod, the caduceus. Research Hermes
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Attribute
