Hermophroditus
(Roman Empire )
Hermaphroditus was a half-male, half-female deity who was the child of the messenger-god Hermes and Aphrodite, goddess of love. A favorite subject of Hellenistic and Roman artists, he was depicted with breasts, male genitals, and a voluptuous body. Images of Hermaphroditus were placed in gymnasia, baths, theaters, and homes. The small size of this example suggests that it was made as a decorative object or for a household shrine.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Maurice Nahman, Cairo [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Brummer, New York, 1928, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. P5346]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1928, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
Date | Description | Narrative |
---|---|---|
Technical Report | examined for technical study | |
5/25/2001 | Treatment | cleaned; stabilized |
Geographies
Roman Empire (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 18 7/8 x W: 9 13/16 x D: 4 15/16 in. (48 x 25 x 12.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1928
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
23.167