MESSENGER Approaches Mercury

Enclose · Post by **Enclose** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:13 am

I can make that with photoshop... Don't think it's a real picture

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:42 am

I like how they specified that it's the second in HUMAN history. Makes me wonder what they know that we don't...

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:02 am

Can't you see the 1x4x9 black monolith in the background?

Caroluna · Post by **Caroluna** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 11:55 am

I can't do a goofy graphic w/ this-- it's so perfect the way it is!

So here's some trivia from Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)

wiki wrote: Syncretism. When they described the gods of Celtic and Germanic tribes, rather than considering them separate deities, the Romans interpreted them as local manifestations or aspects of their own gods, a cultural trait called the interpretatio Romana. Mercury in particular was reported as becoming extremely popular among the nations the Roman Empire conquered; Julius Caesar wrote of Mercury being the most popular god in Britain and Gaul, regarded as the inventor of all the arts. This is probably because in the Roman syncretism, Mercury was equated with the Celtic god Lugus, and in this aspect was commonly accompanied by the Celtic goddess Rosmerta. Although Lugus may originally have been a deity of light or the sun (though this is disputed), similar to the Roman Apollo, his importance as a god of trade and commerce made him more comparable to Mercury, and Apollo was instead equated with the Celtic deity Belenus.[1]

In Celtic areas, Mercury was sometimes portrayed with three heads or faces, and at Tongeren, Belgium, a statuette of Mercury with three phalli was found, with the extra two protruding from his head and replacing his nose; this was probably because the number 3 was considered magical, making such statues good luck and fertility charms. The Romans also made widespread use of small statues of Mercury, probably drawing from the ancient Greek tradition of hermae markers.

So of course I had to check out these Hermai marker things....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herma

there's a picture of the statue I can't post here

Wiki wrote:
In ancient Greece, before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, Hermes was a phallic god, associated with fertility, luck, roads and borders. His name comes from the word herma (plural hermai) referring to a square or rectangular pillar of stone, terracotta, or bronze; a bust of Hermes' head, usually with a beard, sat on the top of the pillar, and male genitals adorned the base. The hermai were used as boundary markers on roads and borders. In Athens, they were placed outside houses for good luck. [The male genitals would be rubbed or anointed with olive oil to obtain luck].

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:24 pm

Enclose wrote:I can make that with photoshop... Don't think it's a real picture

I can make you with photoshop.
I don't think you're a real poster.

Dale, I think we got ourselves another spammer, here!!!

Enclose · Post by **Enclose** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:54 pm

Err?

I'm just saying what I think about it. It looks fake to me

Ronbo · Post by **Ronbo** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:58 pm

Enclose wrote:Err?

I'm just saying what I think about it. It looks fake to me

Just click on the original picture. Takes you to the website. It's real alright. Better than Caroluna's new catnip pics. I am sure she will get around to doing something with it, though.

Caroluna · Post by **Caroluna** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:16 pm

If you insist

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:22 pm

Caroluna wrote:If you insist

Hmmm...that rendition makes me want to outgrabe with mome raths

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:27 pm

Yes. 'Twas......brillig, wasn't it.

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:29 pm

Nanohedron wrote:Yes. 'Twas......brillig, wasn't it.

Aye, 'twas.

No, if you'll excuse me...I've got to go feed the bandersnatch....

(hey, weren't we talking about bandersnatch in one o' jim stone's threads??

)

I.D.10-t · Post by **I.D.10-t** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:32 pm

I didn't even notice 'twas brilling!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Enclose · Post by **Enclose** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:49 pm

Ronbo wrote:
Enclose wrote:Err?

I'm just saying what I think about it. It looks fake to me
Just click on the original picture. Takes you to the website. It's real alright. Better than Caroluna's new catnip pics. I am sure she will get around to doing something with it, though.

I just think it looks odd. The starless "sky", the lighting, the smooth feathered transition to darkness, and from most sources I found mercury is yellowish but I guess this is just a desaturated picture.

Anyhow, I've done some wikipedi'ing and I shall have to retract my statement

It's real

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:57 pm

Enclose wrote:Anyhow, I've done some wikipedi'ing and I shall have to retract my statement It's real

oh, good! we were getting worried....