Janet McIntyre
Hah hah! Wish I'd been with mum when we looked at this one. I find it interesting the way a sculptured marble figure is cleverly attached to another solid part of the sculpture, to give it strength, I guess. Here it is a robe perhaps over a tree stump. Ok, according to my Oxford Junior Encyclopaedia 1959, this statue is by Praxiteles (4th century BC)and perhaps the only original work we have by any really great Greek sculptor. Hermes is the god of luck and wealth, was the gods' messenger and was responsible for conducting souls to Hades. He was also get god of roads. He had wings on his feet, a broad-rimmed at and a staff around which serpents were twisted. The infant is Dionysus - the god of fertility, especially of the vine. Being a god of the earth, he disappeared in the winter and returned or was reborn in spring. According to Macquarie Dictionary Hermes was also god of commerce, invention, cunning and theft (no mention of Hades). And Dionysus - youthful & beautiful god of wine and drama, identified with Roman god Bacchus. I've made up for mum's "no comment"!
Mum/Marion No comment Michael ! ! ! ?????
Janet McIntyre Hah hah! Wish I'd been with mum when we looked at this one. I find it interesting the way a sculptured marble figure is cleverly attached to another solid part of the sculpture, to give it strength, I guess. Here it is a robe perhaps over a tree stump. Ok, according to my Oxford Junior Encyclopaedia 1959, this statue is by Praxiteles (4th century BC)and perhaps the only original work we have by any really great Greek sculptor. Hermes is the god of luck and wealth, was the gods' messenger and was responsible for conducting souls to Hades. He was also get god of roads. He had wings on his feet, a broad-rimmed at and a staff around which serpents were twisted. The infant is Dionysus - the god of fertility, especially of the vine. Being a god of the earth, he disappeared in the winter and returned or was reborn in spring. According to Macquarie Dictionary Hermes was also god of commerce, invention, cunning and theft (no mention of Hades). And Dionysus - youthful & beautiful god of wine and drama, identified with Roman god Bacchus. I've made up for mum's "no comment"!