Figure of a bearded man at the Louvre, Lens

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This figure of a bearded man is a sculpture made of terracotta dating from 1548 - 1550. Created by an unknown sculptor, its origin is known as Oiron, France. The work was given to the Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres by Gabrielle Fillon. In 1935 it was put into storage at the Louvre, where it is part of the collections of the Department of Sculptures. It measures 115 x 39 x 30 centimeters and originates from a niche of the courtyard of the castle of Oiron in Deux-Sèvres in France, decorated by the lord of Oiron, Claude Gouffier. The statue represents Terminus, also named Terme, the patron deity of the terminals that delimit fields and properties. A term refers to an element consisting of a sculptured figure or bust at the top of a stone pillar or column that usually tapers downward to a quadrangular base. Often the pillar replaces the body of the figure, with feet sometimes indicated at its base. The pillar itself may be a separate object, in which case it is called a terminal pedestal. The word term has a long list of synonyms, including terminal figure, terminus, terminal, herma, hermes, and herm. In ancient Rome terms were placed along highways and used as boundary markers. The head or bust on a Roman term could be that of a human, an animal, or a mythical creature. The ancestor of the Roman term, the herm, was a sacred representation of the Greek god of travelers, Hermes: a sculptured bust of the god merging into the stone pillar supporting it. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free.