Mercury and his mother Maia were worshipped somewhere in Pompeii by an association of freedmen and slaves, under the authority of the local town council. Inscribed plaques, which can be dated to 14 BC and then 2 BC, show how the emperor gradually infiltrated the cult during this period. First of all, Mercury and Maia appear by themselves, then Augustus appears alongside them, and finally Augustus is named by himself. For later dedications, see also CIL X 891 (ad 1), X 892 (ad 3), X 895 (ad 23), X 899 (ad 32), X 901 (ad 34), X 902 (ad 34).
[Marcus] Sittius Papia, freedman of Marcus, (set this up as) sacred to Mercury and Maia in accordance with a decree of the town councillors, by command of Marcus Melsonius, son of Aulus, for the second time, and Publius Rogius Varus, son of Publius, duumvirs with judicial power; and of Numerius Paccius Chilo, son of Numerius, and Marcus Ninnus Pollio, son of Marcus, duumvirs in charge of streets, sacred and public buildings, in the consulship of [Marcus] Crassus and Gnaeus Lentulus.
E29 CIL X 886 = ILS 6389, 14 bc
Marcus Sittius Serapa, freedman of Marcus, (set this up as) sacred to Mercury and Maia in accordance with a decree of the town councillors, by command of Publius Rogius Varus, son of Publius, and Marcus Melsonius, son of Aulus, for the second time, duumvirs with judicial power; and of Numerius Paccius Chilo, son of Numerius, and Marcus Ninnus Pollio, son of Marcus, duumvirs in charge of streets, sacred and public buildings, [in the consulship of] Marcus Crassus and Gnaeus Lentulus.
E30 CIL X 888 = ILS 6390
Gratus, slave of Arrius; Messius Arrius Inventus; Memor, slave of Istacidius, attendants of Augustus, Mercury, and Maia, [in accordance with a] decree of the town councillors, by command of [. . .]
E31 CIL X 890 = ILS 6391, 2 bc
Aulus Veius Phylax, Numerius Popidius Moschus, Titus Mescinius Amphio, Primus, slave of Marcus Arruntius, attendants of Augustus, in accordance with a decree of the town councillors, by command of Marcus Holconius Rufus, for the fourth time, and Aulus Clodius Flaccus, for the third time, duumvirs with judicial power, and of Publius Caesetius Postumus and Numerius Tintirius Rufus, duumvirs in charge of streets, sacred and public buildings, in the consulship of Imperator Caesar for the thirteenth time and [Marcus Plautius] Silvanus.
World History
