Hermes - Elgin Marble at The British Museum, London

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This figure is believed to depict Hermes, a messenger god who has guided Athena's chariot to the Acropolis. The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures (mostly created by Phidias and his team), inscriptions, and architectural components that originally were part of the Parthenon and other structures on the Acropolis of Athens. Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin, claimed to obtain in 1811 a contentious permit 'not to remove statues but what he might discover through specific excavation' from the Ottoman house, which then ruled Greece. From 1801 to 1812, Elgin's representatives removed roughly half of the surviving Parthenon sculptures, as well as architectural components and sculpture from the Propylaea and Erechtheum. The Marbles were transported by sea to Britain. In Britain, the acquisition of the collection was supported by some individuals, while others likened Elgin's actions to vandalism or looting. Following a public debate in Parliament and subsequent exoneration of Elgin, the marbles were purchased by the British government in 1816 and were transferred to the British Museum, where they now stand on display in the purpose-built Duveen Gallery. 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 public access. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can assist. Many thanks to Javier for the beautiful renders of this sculpture!