On this day, May 8, the Mercury of Praxiteles is discovered

The project “Diamond of Olympia”, o Hermes of Praxiteles is one of the most famous sculptures of ancient Greece, created around 330 BC. by the famous sculptor Praxiteles. It is the only authentic work of his that has survived and was found in Olympia, untouched on its pedestal, several meters underground on a day like today, April 8, 1877.

Hermes of Praxiteles: H epitome of ancient Greek beauty

This classical-era masterpiece epitomizes ancient Greek beauty, depicting the divine messenger and son of Zeus, Hermes, holding the infant Dionysus, the god of wine. He carries him from Olympus in the region of Boeotia where his nymph aunts, sisters of Semele’s mother, will take over his upbringing. The messenger of the Gods rests on a tree trunk during this journey which he undertakes at the behest of Zeus.

This masterpiece of the classical era epitomizes ancient Greek beauty © Wikimedia Commons

The statuary complex, 2.13 meters high, is made of Parian marble. Hermes is depicted as a young, athletic figure with harmonious proportions, embodying the idealized male form of the era. The statue exemplifies the perfect balance of movement and rest, a characteristic feature of Praxiteles’ work. The detailed rendering of Hermes’ anatomy, with finely worked muscles and relaxed posture, brings to life a figure that is both divine and naturalistic, capturing a moment of calm intimacy between the two gods.

It was dedicated by the Elians and Arcadians to the sanctuary of Altis, to celebrate the treaty of peace. It was found inside the temple of Hera almost intact, during the excavations of 1877. From its dedication and probably until the Roman years, it stood in some part of Alta but was later moved for reasons of protection inside Heraion.

Contra posto: How Praxiteles showed his artistic intelligence

While the statue depicts Hermes holding the infant Dionysus, it is the impression-stealing depiction of Mercury. His contemplative expression and the graceful curvature of his limbs highlight the artistic intelligence of Praxiteles, evoking a sense of dynamic yet peaceful energy.

Praxiteles’ work conveys a sense of dynamic and peaceful energy © Wikimedia Commons

The work is a masterpiece of 4th century art. e.g. and represents an era where strict symmetry has been succeeded by naturalism in the rendering of forms. The glossiness of the skin of the statue perfectly conveys the vitality of the flesh and is one of the characteristics of Praxiteles’ style. The beauty of the statue is contributed by the perfect rendition of the muscles, the masterfully executed cross posture of the body (contra posto) as well as its now-lost rich painting, as presumed by the traces of paint that have been preserved on the castors and the sandal.

Dionysus is held securely in Hermes’ arms, depicted as a trusting and innocent infant, in stark contrast to Hermes’ mature and graceful demeanor. The ornate details in the rendering of the baby Dionysus are equally fascinating, offering a glimpse into the god’s early life rarely depicted in Greek art.

Hermes’ left leg from the knee down, his right shin as well as the lower part of the tree trunk are completed with plaster. In the missing right hand, Hermes probably held a bunch of grapes, symbol of Dionysus, to occupy the little god, while in the left hand, in the palm, he would hold the caduceus which is the symbol of the messenger of the gods. There are tool marks on the back of the statue from a later treatment as well as a hole in the base of its spine and in the tree trunk that were probably made in Roman times to repair some damage that had been caused in conjunction with its more secure support against the wall of the cella of Heraios.

“Mercury is not an original work of the sculptor”: When the authenticity of the statue was questioned

The Mercury of Praxiteles, although today considered an authentic work of the Athenian sculptor, was strongly disputed in the past. The doubts of the experts are focused on some technical imperfections of the work but also on the traces of the tools that possibly reveal later processing. In 1927 the German Archaeologist Karl Blüme raises questions and doubts about the authenticity of the complex.

He considers it to be a copy from Roman times and he makes sure to publicize his claims by publishing, in fact, a study related to the technique of ancient sculpture, where he cites his observations, all related to the construction of the statue. This theory creates reactions, however, no answer is given to the questions posed by the German Archaeologist at the time and the adventure of Hermes, regarding its originality, remains pending for several years, until the attempt to provide answers by Oscar Antonsson, in 1937. Antonsson concludes that the statue, if it is original, if it was created by Praxiteles, it does not represent the God Mercury, but Panas carrying the young Dionysus.

The adventure of Hermes of Praxiteles © Wikimedia Commons

This theory provokes a new round of reactions from the archaeologist who opened this discussion, looking for answers, who returns 11 years later with a brand new approach this time: that it is an original statue, but it should not be attributed to Praxiteles, but to someone namesake of the sculptor of the Hellenistic times. Finally, although there are serious indications of a later dating, after many archaeological symposia and deeper study it seems the researchers came to the obvious: that the Hermes of Praxiteles is nothing more than the authentic work of a great sculptor, which centuries later than the time of creation of, suffered the inconvenience of some Roman artist’s rude chisel.

Hermes of Praxiteles, an unsurpassed beauty © Wkimedia Commons

The statue continues to retain its majestic beauty, offering a rich insight into the art of ancient Greek sculpture and bearing witness to Praxiteles’ unparalleled ability to capture beauty and grace in marble.

Visitors to the Archaeological Museum of Olympia have the opportunity to witness this magnificent work, a convergence of mythology, artistic innovation and unparalleled craftsmanship, offering a rare glimpse into the aesthetic values ​​and artistic heights of the ancient world.