Hermes of Aegium
Hermes of Aegium is a lifesize Roman sculpture of the Greek messenger god Hermes found in the town of Aegium in southern Greece in mid nineteenth century. It is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in the capital Athens under accession number 241. It is nearly intact with minor damage.
History
Hermes of Aegium was produced during the Roman period, around the Augustan Age, and was most likely used as a funerary sculpture. It was found in Aigion in Achaea after which it took its name, in 1860. It was purchased by the archaeological society for 12,000 drachmas.Description
This life-size statue stands at 171 cm in height, and it is made of pentelic white marble. Although created during Roman times, certain Lysippean features and influence can be clearly identified on it.Hermes stands up, resting his weight on his left leg while his relaxed right leg is bent at the knee and drawn slightly to his side and behind. A chlamys hangs from his left shoulder, wound around his left arm and hanging on the marble support, which here takes the shape of a tree trunk.
In his right hand Hermes holds a purse, of which the upper part does not survive, and on his left he would have held a caduceus, his most recognisable symbol, which is not preserved at all. His head, carved in idealized shape, has strong features and is inclined to the left; his short, tousled hair is carved in the shape of crescent locks framing his face quite low on the forehead.
The statues bears some resemblance to another Roman statue of the god found in Greece, the Atalante Hermes, but is rather of poorer quality compared to that one, and especially compared to the Hermes of Andros.