What is Hermes and the Infant Dionysos?
{{italictitle}} [[File:Hermes praxiteles c.jpg|thumb|Detail of the statue]] '''''Hermes and the Infant Dionysos''''' is a [[statue]] possibly made by the [[Ancient history|ancient]] Greek [[sculptor]] [[Praxiteles]]. The statue was discovered in 1877 in the [[ruins]] of the [[Temple of Hera]] at [[Olympia, Greece]]. It is now in the [[Archaeological Museum of Olympia]]. The statue was probably made in the 4th century BC. This [[date]] is based on a [[remark]] by the 2nd century Greek traveller [[Pausanias]]. [[Hermes]] stands 2.15 [[meter]]s (7&nbsp;ft. ½ in.) tall. He is missing two [[finger]]s of his left [[hand]], both [[forearms]] below the [[elbow]], the left [[foot]], and his [[penis]]. [[Dionysos]] is missing his [[arm]]s (except the right hand on Hermes' [[shoulder]]). He is missing the end of his right foot. Much of the [[tree]] [[trunk]] and the [[plinth]] are also lost. However, an ancient base [[survive]]s, made of a grey [[limestone]] block between two blocks of marble. The group is [[sculpt]]ed from a [[block]] of [[Parian marble]]. Hermes measures 2.10/2.12 [[meter]]s, 3.70 m with the base. The right foot of Hermes is [[integral]] with a section of the base. The [[face]] and [[torso]] of Hermes are striking for their highly [[wikt:polish|polished]], [[glow]]ing [[surface]]. The back shows the marks of the [[rasp]] and [[chisel]]. The rest of the sculpture is not completely finished. At the time of its discovery, the hair had some slight traces of [[cinnabar]], a form of [[mercury sulfate]] with a [[red]] [[color]] that may have been a preparation for [[gilding]]. Cinnabar tints are seen on the [[sandal]] [[strap]]s of the original foot, with traces of gilding. The sandal also bears the [[motif]] of a [[Heraclean knot]]. == Gallery == <gallery> File:Hermes di Prassitele, at Olimpia, front.jpg|Front File:Hermes di Prassitele, at Olimpia, back.jpg|Back File:Hermes di Prassitele, at Olimpia, particular.jpg|Detail File:Hermes amb Dionís infant de Praxíteles, museu arqueològic d'Olímpia.JPG|Detail