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Hermes' main role is as a messenger but he has many other functions as well. He is also known as Mercury (Roman) and Argeiphontes (Slayer of Argos). His attributes in iconography include the kerykeion (messenger's staff), winged boots, and petassos (cap).

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Images

Ancient Sources

• Hermes leading quadriga: Overview, Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Birth of Athene: Overview, Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Hermes Watching Europa and the Bull: Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Hermes Watching Heracles and the Erymanthian Boar: Overview, Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Assembly of gods: Overview, Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Heracles and the Cretan Bull (Side A): Overview (Side A), Detail (Side A)
  Hermes, Dionysos, and goddess (Side B): Overview (Side B), Detail (Side B)
  Info, Archaic

• Heracles and the Nemean Lion: Overview, Detail
  Info, Archaic

• Dionysos, Athene, and Hermes: Overview, Detail (sideways for some reason)
  Info, Archaic

• Hermes leading the goddesses: Image
  Workshop of Nearchos Painter, ca 560 BC, MM

• Judgement of Paris: Image
  Antimenes Painter, ca 530 BC, MM

• Hermes and Iris: Overview, Detail
  Info, Late Archaic

• Hermes fights a giant: Overview, Detail
  Info, Late Archaic

• Hermes and the cattle: Image
  Theseus Painter, ca 500 BC, MM

• Hermes: Image
  Cornelian scarab, ca 500 BC, MM

• Hermes, Eurydice, and Orpheus: Large image, 50% image
  Roman copy, Classical, AS

• Hermes in the Underworld: Image
  Syracuse Painter, ca 480-470 BC, MM

• Hermes bearing a ram: Large image, 50% image
  5th century BC, MM

• Coin: Obverse, Reverse
  Info, Early Classical

• Birth of Dionysos: Image
  Alkimachos Painter, ca 460 BC, MM

• Hermes: Image
  Polycleitos, ca 450 BC, MM

• Hermes: Large image, 50% image
  Phiale Painter, ca 440 BC, MM

• Hermes delivers the infant Dionysos to Papposilenos and nymph: Large image, 50% image
  Phiale Painter, ca 430 BC, MM

• Hermes and Dionysos: Overview, Detail
  Info, Classical

• Hermes: Image
  Lysippos, ca 350 BC, MM

• Hermes and the infant Dionysos: Image
  Praxiteles: temple of Hera, Olympia, ca 330 BC, US

Later Representations in Art

• Mercury and Argos: Image
  French miniature, 15th century, MM

• Mercury: Image
  Schardt, Johann Gregor von der, ca 1530, MM

• Mercury: Image
  Goltzius, Hendrik, 1592, MM

Also see Hermes texts.

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