Seated Hermes, bronze.

In Greek mythology, Hermes was the messenger of the gods. He was the son of Zeus and Maia, daughter of Atlas. In Roman mythology he is matched by Mercury. Hermes wears a pair of winged sandals, talaria. Hermes was also the god of talkers, merchants and thieves. He also leads the human soul to the underworld after death. With his winged shoes, he also became the god of athletes, especially runners.

This is a replica of a bronze sculpture from the Roman period dated before 79 AD. Found today in the Archaeological Museum in Naples’ collection. The sculpture was found during excavations of the Papyrus Villa in Herculaneum. The sculpture, which depicts the god Hermes sitting on a rock, is believed to be a Roman copy of a Greek original from around the fourth century BC, attributed to Lysippos on a stylistic basis, but not corroborated by ancient literary sources. Hermes can also have attributes such as a heraldic staff called the caduceus, as well as dress in a helmet-like hat and cloak.