5953. About a wing on the head, that they are messengers
A spirit appeared to me with a little wing of the left side of the head, and they said that sometimes those sent from one [spirit] to another with letters or messages appear looking like this. From this it was evident from where the ancients derived the idea of fixing a wing on the head of Mercury who was the messenger between their gods.
5953. A WING UPON THE HEAD: THAT [THOSE WHO APPEAR THUS] ARE MESSENGERS.
There appeared to me a single spirit with a little wing at the left side of the head; and they said that those sometimes appear thus who are sent by one to another, with letters or messages. Hence was evident whence the ancients derived their custom of representing a wing on the head of Mercury, who was the messenger between their gods.
5953. De ala super caput, quod nuntii
Apparebat mihi unus spiritus cum parva ala ad sinistrum latus capitis, et dicebant quod ita quandoque appareant illi qui mittuntur ab uno ad alterum, cum literis aut nuntiis. inde patuit unde veteres traxerunt, quod finxerint alam ad caput Mercurii, qui erat nuntius inter eorum deos.