Sleeping Hermaphroditus / Ermafrodito dormiente

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This is an ancient Roman marble copy from a stunning Hellenistic original statue dating back to the II century B.C. The statue has been proudly displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence since 1669. This captivating artwork features a life-size representation of Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Aphrodite, in a peaceful sleeping state. According to the renowned Latin poet Publius Ovidius Naso, Hermaphroditus was a breathtakingly handsome young man who underwent a magical transformation into an androgynous form after forming a supernatural bond with the enchanting water nymph Salmacis. The devoted nymph Salmacis fell deeply in love with him but unfortunately did not receive the same affection, so she fervently prayed to the gods to merge them physically, combining her traits within his body. Hermaphroditus lived out the rest of his life as both a man and a woman, simultaneously experiencing the two sexes.