… continued from my previous post
As to the figure – Tolkien can’t help but have noticed Mercury staring at his arm raised in challenge with a single finger on one hand extended above the rest.
Mercury Statue, Right Hand showing raised Fore-finger
Or, depending on the viewing angle, perhaps the god is really staring at his little finger*?
One certainly can’t miss him balancing on one foot. Running or hopping – who can truly say? And at the fountain pump’s normal setting, from afar only his lower leg appears to get wet**.
From all of this – one can’t help but mull upon whether the threads of a story began to be woven together – with our Tom Bombadil taking up aspects of the Roman god’s persona!
… to be continued
* One should recall:
“Then Tom put the Ring round the end of his little finger and held it up to the candlelight.”
–
The Fellowship of the Ring, In the House of Tom Bombadil
** From the story:
“Tom Bombadil came trotting round the corner of the house, waving his arms as if he was warding off the rain – and indeed when he sprang over the threshold he seemed quite dry, except for his boots.”
–
The Fellowship of the Ring, In the House of Tom Bombadil