Mercury was the messenger of Jupiter and wore a winged cap and winged shoes.

Mythology

The names we use today for the planets are Latin god-name equivalents of the earlier Greek god-names, which the Greeks themselves originally matched to the god-names of the pioneering stargazers of antiquity, the Babylonians. Thus Mercury is a translation of Hermes (the Babylonian Nebo). In Roman mythology Mercury is the god of commerce, travel, wrestling and other gymnastic pursuits, as well as thievery. Mercury was the messenger of Jupiter and wore a winged cap and winged shoes. Although not an important state god, Mercury's popularity was considerable and grew more with the spread of Roman power and trade. It is interesting to note that Hermes was the patron of merchants. The planet probably received the name Mercury because, like the winged Mercury, it moves so quickly across the sky.