Hermes by Praxiteles
Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art
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In addition to being a messenger of the gods (herald), Hermes was also a psychopomp. This means that he was responsible for transporting souls of the dead to the underworld (a task greatly aided by his speed, considering how many people die). A related job of his was that of bringing dreams to people while they slept.
Furthermore, Hermes was also treated as a god with authority over shepherds, herds, and flocks. As a pastoral god he was involved with fertility, perhaps a reason why an erect phallus is normally placed on hermai statues of him.
The Hermes statue of Praxiteles was created around 343 BCE of Parian marble and is the only surviving original work of Praxiteles, on of the greatest sculptors of ancient Greece. It was discovered intact in 1877 under several meters of dirt at Olympia. Depicting a young Dionysus trying to take something from Hermes' hand, it commemorated a peace treaty between the Eleians and Acradians and stood in Hera's temple.
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