Other Images

Hermes

How can you tell this is Hermes?

This black figure hydria from about 540 B.C. seems to show a composite scene from the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. To the left are Apollo’s stolen cattle, to the right is Hermes in his liknon, with unidentified figures around him. Most people have identified Maia and Apollo here, but are baffled by the third standing figure. See below for a close up.

On this Hydria from c. 460 B.C. Hermes approaches from the right as Argus starts to flee with Io (who had been turned into a cow by Zeus). See Ovid for the full story!