Hermes, the Roman Mercury, at the Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

Hermes is the son of Zeus and the Pleiades Maia.

He is the inventor of the lyre, but also of the flute: the syrinx or Pan flute.

Hermes at rest He is also Apollo's brother.

Fascinated by Hermes’ lyre, Apollo offered him his herds in exchange for the instrument, then, in exchange for the flute, he offered him his golden staff to tend the herds.

This is how the caduceus, the golden rod, became one of Hermes’ attributes.

But before agreeing to give him his flute, Hermes asked Apollo to teach him the art of divination as well.

Apollo therefore taught his brother how to read the future using small pebbles.

These various qualities of Hermes pleased his father, Zeus, who, charmed by his talents, decided to make him his messenger as well as that of the gods of the underworld, Hades and Persephone.

Hermes at rest, Villa dei Papiri, Herculaneum

Sculpture – Bronze (Height 115 cm) 1st century BC

This sculpture depicting Hermes, discovered in the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum, is considered one of the finest bronze sculptures of antiquity to have survived to the present day.

Hermes at rest Hermes is naked, sitting on a rock, his only clothing being his winged sandals.

His winged sandals, which have no soles, are distinctive in that they are laced beneath the arch of the foot, clearly indicating that he does not walk, but flies.

His left foot does not rest flat on the rock, but on the tips of his toes, like an athlete at the starting line, always ready to take flight as soon as he receives a new message to deliver.

He is depicted in the posture of an athlete at rest, his back slightly arched with the palm of his right hand resting on the rock, his left shoulder relaxed as he lets his arm rest on his thigh.

The extended position of his right leg, resting on the back of his heel, is that of relaxation after a race.

Apparently, Hermes held the caduceus in his left hand, of which only a fragment of the upper part remains.

Hermes at rest

Bust of Hermes, Temple of Apollo, Pompeii

Sculpture – Marble – Late 1st century BC – Early 1st century

This sculpture, discovered in the Temple of Apollo in Pompeii, shows us Hermes in deep thought, his head slightly bowed and his hands clasped and completely wrapped in his cloak as a sign of mourning.

This statue most likely depicts Hermes Psychopomp: Hermes, the guide of souls.

Hermes was the messenger of the gods, the cunning god of commerce and theft, charged with protecting or aiding heroes, such as Heracles, Odysseus, Perseus and many others; but he was also charged with guiding the souls of the dead to the Underworld, under the name of Psychopomp.

Bust of Hermes