Editing Mercury (mythology) (section)

==Temple==
[[Temple of Mercury|Mercury's temple in Rome]] was situated in the [[Circus Maximus]], between the [[Aventine Hill|Aventine]] and [[Palatine Hill|Palatine]] Hills, and was built in 495 BC.<ref>[[Livy]], ''[[Ab urbe condita libri (Livy)|Ab urbe condita]]'', [[s:From the Founding of the City/Book 2#21|2:21]]</ref>

That year saw disturbances at Rome between the patrician [[Roman Senate|senators]] and the [[Plebs|plebeians]], which led to a [[First secessio plebis in 494 BC|secession of the plebs]] in the following year. At the completion of its construction, a dispute emerged between the consuls [[Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis]] and [[Publius Servilius Priscus Structus]] as to which of them should have the honour of dedicating the temple.

The [[Roman Senate]] referred the decision to the popular assembly, and also decreed that whichever was chosen should also exercise additional duties, including presiding over the markets, establish a merchants' guild, and exercising the functions of the {{Lang|la|[[pontifex maximus]]}}. The people, because of the ongoing public discord, and in order to spite the senate and the [[Roman consul|consuls]], instead awarded the honour of dedicating the temple to Marcus Laetorius, the [[Primus pilus|senior military officer]] of one of the legions. The senate and the consuls, in particular the conservative Appius, were outraged at this decision, and it inflamed the ongoing situation.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Livy]] |title=[[Ab Urbe Condita Libri|Ab urbe condita]] |at=[[s:From the Founding of the City/Book 2#27|2.27]] }}</ref>

The dedication occurred on 15 May, 495 BC.<ref>{{cite book |author=[[Livy]] |title=[[Ab Urbe Condita Libri|Ab urbe condita]] |at=[[s:From the Founding of the City/Book 2#21|2.21]]}}</ref>

The temple was regarded as a fitting place to worship a swift god of trade and travel, since it was a major center of commerce as well as a racetrack. Since it stood between the plebeian stronghold on the Aventine and the [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] center on the Palatine, it also emphasized the role of Mercury as a [[mediation|mediator]].{{citation needed|date=October 2013}}