Nicolas Poussin: "The Infant Bacchus Entrusted to the Nymphs of
Nysa; The Death of Echo and Narcissus" (1657). The painting
shows Mercury delivering the newly born baby Bacchus to Ino.
Click on image for full size Image courtesy of the Fogg Art
Museum. Gift of Mrs. Samuel Sachs in memory of Mr. Samuel Sachs.
To be reproduced only by permission of the Harvard University
Art Museums. (c) President and Fellows of Harvard College,
Harvard University Art Museums. Mercury and the Birth of Bacchus
Mercury was the prankster of the gods. And yet, in spite of his
pranks, he won the affection of all gods because of his
playfulness, innocence, and helpfulness. He was particularly his
father, and became his official messenger and trusted aide. It
was Mercury who drove the herd of Agenor, with Jupiter disguised
as a bull mingled in with them, towards the Princess Europa on
the Phoenician shores of the Mediterranean. It was Mercury who
lulled Argos to sleep, then slew him and freed Io. Mercury came
again to the aide of his