מֶרְקוּלִיס, Mercurius, name of the Roman divinity, identified with the Grecian Hermes; esp. a statue or way-mark dedicated to Hermes (v. Lübker Reallex. s. vv. Hermes and Hermae). Snh. VII, 6 הזורק אבן למ׳ זו היא עבודתו casting a stone on a merculis (hermaeon), that is the way of worshipping it. Ib. 64ᵃ א"ל מ׳ היא they said to him, it was a merculis (at which you cast a stone). Ib. הזורק אבן במ׳ תנן the Mishnah reads, he who casts a stone on a m. Ab. Zar. IV, 1 שלש אבנים … בצד מ׳ וכ׳ if three stones near one another are found by the side of a m., they are forbidden for use. Ib. 50ᵃ אבנים שנשרו מן המ׳ stones which have fallen off a m.—Tosef. ib. VI (VII), 13 מ׳ וכל מה שעליו אסור a m. with all that is on it is forbidden. Ib. 15, sq. (also מֶרְקוּלִס). Ab. Zar. l. c. עיקר מ׳ the original statue of, or heap of stones for, Mercurius, opp. to מ׳ קטין a heap of three stones by its side; a. fr.—Abbr. קוּלִיס.—בית ק׳ a way-mark dedicated to M. (consisting of two stones with a third across the top). Ib.; B. Mets. 25ᵇ (Ms. H. מרקוליס).