I had often wondered about these strange little knobs on Mercury’s pouch. That there were usually three of them (or three on the sides and one on the bottom) was no mystery, given Mercury’s magic, threefold ways. But what were they, exactly? What was their purpose, if any? Many theories were given when I posed the question. Pockets? Folds created from tying a square piece of cloth? Little legs to ‘stand’ the open pouch up with? Was it perhaps made of a bird’s skin or cow’s udder and the hanging bits tied up? Might they be buttons and/or have had some protective function?
Examples of similar bags were found, but of course nothing old enough still existed for comparison. I should back up a minute here and explain what got me looking at his sack in the first place, which was the Fool’s bindle in Tarot de Marseille. Notice how it is divided into three sections, possibly signifying the three, alchemical substances (sulphur/mercury/salt) or stages (black/white/red), and setting the general theme of triplicity that runs through the major arcana. [Note also the mandorla-shaped mouth of the sack-vessel.]
So it seemed that what was originally a natural characteristic (say, knotted udder nipples) gradually became decorative knobs in much later woodcuts, that served no function other than to add a lucky triplicity to Mercury’s accoutrement.
But you know how it is, a planet turns retrograde and answers to riddles (Mercury), an old love (Venus) or cold case murder evidence (Pluto) can suddenly just pop up.
I was looking for something else (naturally), when I came upon this image, not in my Mercury folder. It is of a tintinnabulum from Pompeii, ca 1st c AD. These were little wind-chimes with protective phalli, to keep the bad spirits away (bells would have hung from the ends). The erect phallus was considered a potent apotropiac, and specific to Hermes-Mercury, god of travellers and magicians. They were featured regularly on herms (or just by themselves), situated at crossroads. I dunno, do you think we should add more penises? Maybe a few little ones on the bag, just in case.
Addendum: After posting this article, suddenly people are chiming In and saying “noooo, wroooong! they are testicles!” Where were they when I first put forth the question? Eh? Eh? Little Red Hen asks. (I jest). Well, of course, once Europe became Christianized, you couldn’t very well put shlongs on everything. So the obvious solution would be to use testicles. It is still part of the magical triad of phallic anatomy, just easier to disguise as knobs or figs or what have you. After all, we are talking about a time frame from Rome BC to the Renaissance, so there is going to be an evolutionary process. Excuse me for trying to get right to the ‘point,’ but my mission was to locate the possible ‘source’. Btw, the Mercurial tradition of touching one’s nutsack for protection (from you-know-who) is still alive and well.
…don’t forget to pick up your lucky bawdy badge on the way out!
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