Sleeping Hermaphroditus at the Louvre, Paris, France

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The Awakening Hermaphroditus is a magnificent marble sculpture portraying a life-sized Hermaphroditus, reclining on a majestic mattress sculpted by the renowned Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1620. This masterpiece draws inspiration from ancient depictions of Venus and other female nudes, as well as contemporaneous feminized Hellenistic portrayals of Dionysus/Bacchus. It represents a subject that was frequently repeated in Hellenistic times and in ancient Rome, as evident from the numerous versions that have survived. Hermaphroditus, the two-sexed child of Aphrodite and Hermes (Venus and Mercury), has long been a symbol of androgyny or effeminacy. In Greco-Roman art, Hermaphroditus was portrayed as a female figure with male genitals. Theophrastus's account suggests a link between Hermaphroditus and the institution of marriage. The reference to the fourth day of the month is telling: this is considered the luckiest day to have a wedding. Hermaphroditus's association with marriage seems to be that, by embodying both masculine and feminine qualities, he symbolized the coming together of men and women in sacred union. Another factor linking Hermaphroditus to weddings was his parents' role in protecting and blessing brides. The name Hermaphroditus is derived from those of his parents Hermes and Aphrodite. All three of these gods figure prominently among erotic and fertility figures, and all possess distinctly sexual overtones. Sometimes, Hermaphroditus is referred to as Aphroditus. The phallic god Priapus was the son of Hermes in some accounts, and the youthful god of desire Eros of Hermes and Aphrodite. This remarkable 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 help.