Hermes of Praxiteles

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Illustration

James Lloyd
by
published on 09 October 2012
Hermes of Praxiteles Download Full Size Image

This statue was uncovered during excavations in 1877 at the Temple of Hera at Olympia. The statue captures the myth where Hermes takes the baby Dionysos to the Nymphs, where on his way he rests upon a tree trunk, having thrown his cloak over it.
It is suggested that the right hand may have held some grapes, associated with the god of wine, Dionysos.
The marble is highly polished, giving a godly glow, and the glance of the god avoids the eyes of onlookers, distancing the world of the gods from that of the mortals.
The statue is of Parian Marble and stands 2.13m high, the calves and the left foot are reconstructed from plaster

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About the Author

James Lloyd
James' main area of research is ancient Greek music, but he has general interests in mythology, religion, and art & archaeology. A self-confessed philhellene, James keeps at least one eye on the Roman pie.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Lloyd, J. (2012, October 09). Hermes of Praxiteles. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/918/hermes-of-praxiteles/

Chicago Style

Lloyd, James. "Hermes of Praxiteles." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified October 09, 2012. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/918/hermes-of-praxiteles/.

MLA Style

Lloyd, James. "Hermes of Praxiteles." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 09 Oct 2012. Web. 11 Sep 2024.

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