Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Bronze objects : Bronze cut-out plaque of Hermes [Χ3158]

Bronze cut-out plaque of Hermes

Χ3158

Metal (Bronze)

Mended on the shins and the partially preserved staff

Height: 12 cm.

Syme

Sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite

Early Archaic period:

690-670 BC:

Gallery:

XVII

Case:

166

Exhibition thematic unit:

Geometric - Archaic - Classical period (10th - 4th c. BC). The Sanctuaries. From Minoan cult to the amalgamation of religious beliefs

Sanctuaries

Description

Bronze cut-out plaque of Hermes as a youth wearing a mantle. The plaque was originally attached to a wooden backing as a votive offering to the sanctuary. At the Syme Sanctuary, Hermes was worshipped in various aspects including that of “Hermes Cedrites”, meaning “Hermes of the Cedars”, protector of his sacred tree and lord of nature, so it is thought that these plaques were placed on a tree. This particular depiction of the god refers to his attributes in the Homeric epics. The young god is wearing a mantle and holding a long staff indicating kingship. In his other hand he holds a smaller staff with three leaf-shaped tips, recalling the Homeric epithet “tripetelos”, meaning “three-leaved”. The iconography makes clear Hermes’ connection to nature and fertility, an aspect which, according to the ancient sources, made him the life-giver and wealth-giver of the gods.

Bibliography:

Lebessi Α., “Ιερόν Ερμού και Αφροδίτης παρά την Κάτω Σύμην Βιάννου”, Αρχαιολογικά Ανάλεκτα εξ Αθηνών VI 1973, 104-114. Michaud J.P., "Chronique des fouilles en 1972", Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique XCVII (1973), 398, fig. 324. Lebessi Α., “ Ιερόν Ερμού και Αφροδίτης εις Σύμην Κρήτης”, Πρακτικά της εν Αθήναις Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρίας 1972, 193-203. Lebessi Α., Το ιερό του Eρμή και της Aφροδίτης στη Σύμη Βιάννου Ι: 1. Χάλκινα κρητικά τορεύματα, Αθήνα 1985, 22-23, 58, 70-71, 85-87, 155-162.

Author:

S. P.

Photographs' metadata