ABSTRACT
In ‘The Spirit Mercurius’ (1943/1948), Jung establishes a Wotan–Mercurius identity. In the debate around Jung's alleged Nazi sympathies, there are often references to the figure of Wotan; only in a few instances, however, is a Wotan–Mercurius identity also mentioned (see Martin and Sherry, in Maidenbaum and Martin 1991: 9, 130). It would appear the deeper implications of this identity have not been explored. In light of this we should also remember that the picture Jung conjures of Wotan is sketchy and cursory compared to the subtle and sophisticated picture of Mercurius he creates.
