5310788 A woodcut engraving depicting Mercury and the activities under its government. Mercury was considered a male planet, and as dry and passive. Those born under Mercury were eloquent and inventive and loved science especially mathematics, and were tall, slender and delicate. The planet\'s metal was quicksilver, its day Wednesday and its night Saturday. It was friendly to the Sun and hostile to Venus and had two houses, Gemini by day and Virgo by night, 16th century; (add.info.: Date: 1754); Universal History Archive/UIG.