Herma

Herme (Greek ἑρμῆς hermes ) referred to in the ancient art a pier shaft with an attached head and shoulders. She was originally a simple cairn ( hermaion ) for marking paths, then a stone pillar provided with phallus and arm movements, was erected as a cult image of the bearded god Hermes ways to cross paths and the like.

History

In ancient times, as early as the Archaic period, there Kopfbildnisse that are located on a square base, which should indicate a truncated pillars which are not directly to do with the Hermes cult. These are often relatively small and also served as a domestic cult object. BC appeared early as the 5th century next to Hermes other gods in this form. The term Herme for Kopfbildnisse on this four-sided base remains. In addition to the private use of portrait heads are as Herme also the subject of public representation and representation. A good example is the well-known Themistocles herm of Ostia. These bases are approaching later increasingly the shape of the bust, which was commonly used in Roman portraiture. Busts usually have an implied arm attachment to the shoulder, which is entirely absent in the Herme.

For the political Hermen were in ancient Athens in 415 BC by the Hermenfrevel.

In addition to politicians Hermen also exist among other things, of philosophers and poets such as by Theophrastus, the teacher of Menander.

Molding

A special form of the Herme is the so-called Doppelherme. In this case two located on the Hermenbasis heads respectively connected to the back of the head are connected to each other. The Roman god Janus appears frequently in this form. However, it also happens that famous poets are represented in Doppelhermen. For example, there is a Doppelherme in the National Roman Museum with portraits of the Hellenistic Menander and probably a poet of the Old Comedy. As perhaps could be thought of Aristophanes, cleared his identity is not yet.

Stone pillar that finish with a woman's head at the upper end are called Karyatidherme. These in turn are derived from caryatid and Herme. In architecture, this can also be found in the 19th century Mannerist style both in representative residential buildings as well as in Immediatbauten application. It is almost canonical accessed on the models of the Caryatids of the Erechteions on the Acropolis in Athens, while older types of Kore this occur relatively rarely. It also comes her male counterpart, the Atlant in this form. However, in contrast to the caryatid he is mostly entirely unclothed.

The Portrait herm as well as the portrait bust be located up today as a tribute to outstanding individuals in exposed public places or buildings. It is often used in this case the expensive Italian Carrara marble, thereby also highlight the importance of the so honored personage.