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In the ancient art of alchemy, mercury, sulfur, and salt were the Earth's three principle substances. Each civilization had its own legends about [[Mercury (Alchemy)]], and it was used as everything from a medicine to a talisman. Mercury's chemical symbol, Hg, comes from the Greek "hydrargyrum" meaning liquid silver. Mercury is also known as "quicksilver," a reference to its mobility and used as the physical symbol to represent the [[Azoth]] or fire-water in ancient alchemy. Speed and mobility were characteristics of the Greek-Roman god, [[Mercury (Hermes)]], who served as a messenger of knowledge to all the other gods and shares his name with the planet nearest the sun. | In the ancient art of alchemy, mercury, sulfur, and salt were the Earth's three principle substances that represent the trinity in creation. Each civilization had its own legends about [[Mercury (Alchemy)]], and it was used as everything from a medicine to a talisman. Mercury's chemical symbol, Hg, comes from the Greek "hydrargyrum" meaning liquid silver. Mercury is also known as "quicksilver," a reference to its mobility and used as the physical symbol to represent the [[Azoth]] or fire-water in ancient alchemy. Speed and mobility were characteristics of the Greek-Roman god, [[Mercury (Hermes)]], who served as a messenger of knowledge to all the other gods and shares his name with the planet nearest the sun. | ||