<P> Hg is the modern chemical symbol for mercury . It comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinized form of the Greek word ὑδράργυρος (hydrargyros), which is a compound word meaning "water - silver" (from ὑδρ - hydr -, the root of ὕδωρ, "water," and ἄργυρος argyros "silver")--since it is liquid like water and shiny like silver . The element was named after the Roman god Mercury, known for his speed and mobility . It is associated with the planet Mercury; the astrological symbol for the planet is also one of the alchemical symbols for the metal; the Sanskrit word for alchemy is Rasavātam which means "the way of mercury". Mercury is the only metal for which the alchemical planetary name became the common name . </P> <P> Mercury was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC . </P> <P> In China and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health, although it is now known that exposure to mercury vapor leads to serious adverse health effects . The first emperor of China, Qín Shǐ Huáng Dì--allegedly buried in a tomb that contained rivers of flowing mercury on a model of the land he ruled, representative of the rivers of China--was killed by drinking a mercury and powdered jade mixture formulated by Qin alchemists (causing liver failure, mercury poisoning, and brain death) who intended to give him eternal life . Khumarawayh ibn Ahmad ibn Tulun, the second Tulunid ruler of Egypt (r . 884--896), known for his extravagance and profligacy, reportedly built a basin filled with mercury, on which he would lie on top of air - filled cushions and be rocked to sleep . </P> <P> In November 2014 "large quantities" of mercury were discovered in a chamber 60 feet below the 1800 - year - old pyramid known as the "Temple of the Feathered Serpent," "the third largest pyramid of Teotihuacan," Mexico along with "jade statues, jaguar remains, a box filled with carved shells and rubber balls ." </P>

Who discovered mercury the element and what year