Hermes and the Infant Dionysus

4th century BCE or later (disputed)

Parian marble, about 2.1 m high · Archaeological Museum of Olympia

Found in 1877 in the Temple of Hera at Olympia, where the ancient travel writer Pausanias recorded a Hermes by Praxiteles. Whether this is that original, a later work or a copy is still debated.

Excavated in May 1877; the right foot turned up in later digs.
Pausanias is the only ancient source to mention it.
Hermes holds the baby Dionysus on his left arm; the lost right hand probably dangled grapes.
Proposed dates run from the mid-4th century BCE to about 100 BCE.

Hermes (Roman Mercury) is the messenger god and guide of travellers. Zeus gave him the infant Dionysus to carry to safety, away from Hera’s jealousy.

Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0