Tuesday, 6 October 2026

Mercury in a Chariot Drawn by Cockerels as Patron of Wrestlers in a Manuscript Miniature

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Manuscript miniature of Mercury in a yellow helmet and tunic driving a chariot drawn by two cockerels, with a caduceus and a round text frame above.

Mercury in a chariot drawn by cocks. The cock appears here not only as a companion of solar deities but also as a symbol of combat, through its association with the cockfights so popular in the ancient world. Mercury, among other things, was the patron of wrestling and wrestlers.

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