Herma of Hermes

myminifactory

The Hermes statue - a stone column topped by the head of the messenger god Hermes - was one of the earliest types of sacred structure in Ancient Greece. Initially it was just a heap of stones. As the son of Zeus and Maia (one of the Pleiades), Hermes protected travelers and merchants, one of the most revered deities since even short journeys were fraught with danger due to numerous robbers and pirates. Hermes statues were placed at crossroads and gateways. The destruction of a Hermes statue was considered one of the gravest acts of sacrilege. Around 470-460 BC, the renowned Greek sculptor Alcamenes created the Hermes Propylaeus (of Gateways) that served as a model for other sculptors, including Roman artists who copied his work. Alcamenes combined a decorative treatment of the locks of hair and beard with classically regular facial features in this work found in Athens. This statue stands out from other versions based on Alcamenes's Hermes by the shawl draped from the god's head in soft, heavy folds.