Herm of a Bearded God: Hermes

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In ancient Greece, statues played a crucial protective role and were strategically placed at crossroads, national borders, and boundaries to safeguard travelers, in front of temples, near tombs, within gymnasia, palaestrae, libraries, porticoes, and public areas, at street corners, on highways as directional signs, with distances inscribed on them. Before becoming the patron deity of merchants and travelers, Hermes evolved from a phallic god associated with fertility, good fortune, roads, and borders. His name possibly originates from "herma," referring to a square or rectangular stone, terracotta, or bronze pillar; a bust of Hermes' head, often adorned with a beard, sat atop the pillar, while male genitalia were displayed at its base. The surmounting heads weren't exclusive to Hermes; those of other gods and heroes, as well as distinguished mortals, frequently appeared on these pillars. This led to the creation of compounds like Hermathena (a herm of Athena), Hermares, Hermaphroditus, Hermanubis, and Hermalcibiades. In Athens, where the hermai were most prevalent and revered, they were placed outside homes as apotropaic symbols for good fortune. They would be rubbed or anointed with olive oil and adorned with garlands or wreaths. This superstition persists, evident in the Porcellino bronze boar of Florence and similar statues worldwide, whose noses are polished from being constantly touched for good luck or fertility.