View source for Turms

{{Short description|Equivalent of Mercury and Greek Hermes}}
{{Coin image box 1 double
| header = Populonia, 5 [[as (coin)|asses]] (?)
| hbkg = #abcdef
| image = File:Populonia 5 asses Turms 77000007.jpg
| caption_left = Turms with winged petasos; at right '''Λ''', mark of value.
| caption_right = Blank.
| width = 300
| footer =  AR 3.30 g ([[Etruscan coins]])
| position = right
| margin = 0
}}
{{SpecialChars}}
In [[Etruscan mythology|Etruscan religion]], '''Turms''' (usually written as 𐌕𐌖𐌓𐌌𐌑 ''Turmś'' in the [[Old Italic script|Etruscan alphabet]]) was the equivalent of Roman [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] and Greek [[Hermes]], both gods of 
trade and the messenger god between people and gods.<ref>[http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/HERMOEA Hermoea] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190131/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/HERMOEA |date=2007-09-27 }}</ref> He was depicted with the same distinctive attributes as Hermes and Mercury: a [[caduceus]], a [[petasos]] (often winged), and/or winged sandals.{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=178}} He is portrayed as a messenger of the gods, particularly [[Tinia]] ([[Jupiter (deity)|Jupiter]]),{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=179}} although he is also thought to be ‘at the service’ (''ministerium'') of other deities.{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=189}}

Etruscan artwork often depicts Turms in his role as [[psychopomp]], conducting the soul into the afterlife.{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|pages=177-178}} In this capacity he is sometimes shown on Etruscan sarcophagi—in one case side by side with [[Charun]] and [[Cerberus]].{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=178}} In another depiction, in which the god is labelled as 𐌕𐌖𐌓𐌌𐌑 𐌀𐌉𐌕𐌀𐌑 ''Turmś Aitaś'' or ‘Turms of [[Greek underworld|Hades]]’, he brings the shade of [[Tiresias]] to consult with [[Odysseus]] [[Katabasis#The Odyssey|in the underworld]].{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=179-180}} Turms also appears in images depicting the [[Judgement of Paris]],{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=179}} as well as in scenes with [[Hercle]] ([[Heracles]]) or [[Perseus]].{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=179}}

The name ''Turms'' is of distinctively [[Etruscan language|Etruscan]] origin, like that of [[Fufluns]] but in contrast to deities such as Hercle and [[Apulu]] ([[Apollo]]), whose names were borrowed from [[Greek language|Greek]].{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|pages=171, 183-184}}

Turms is known more from decoration on everyday objects, such as mirrors, than from cult images,{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=179}} although one dedication has been taken to indicate the existence of a temple of Turms at [[Cortona]].{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=173}}

Bernard Combet-Farnoux interprets comments by [[Maurus Servius Honoratus|Servius]] and [[Macrobius]]{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|pages=185-187}} as indicating that “Hermes-Turms” had the [[Epithet#Religion|epithet]] ''Camillus'', meaning ‘servant’ (i.e. of the other deities).{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|pages=214, 216-217}} A [[scholia|scholium]] on [[Callimachus]] adds that “[[Cabeiri|Cadmilos]] is Hermes in [[Etruria|Tyrrhenia]]”; Combet-Farnoux considers Camillus and Cadmilos to be variants of the same name.{{sfnp|Combet-Farnoux|1980|page=208}}

Turms is also the name of a character in a historical novel by [[Mika Waltari]], ''[[The Etruscan]]'', which takes place during the end of [[Etruscan civilization]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Works cited===
* {{cite book|chapter=Turms étrusque et la fonction de « ''minister'' » de l'Hermès italique |pages=171–217 |title=Mercure romain : Le culte public de Mercure et la fonction mercantile à Rome de la République archaïque à l'époque augustéenne |last=Combet-Farnoux |first=Bernard |date=1980 |publisher=École française de Rome }}

{{Authority control}}
{{Etruria-stub}}
{{deity-stub}}

[[Category:Etruscan gods]]
[[Category:Commerce gods]]
[[Category:Messenger gods]]
[[Category:Mercurian deities]]
[[Category:Psychopomps]]