Editing Herm (sculpture) (section)

==Uses==
[[File:HermHerakles 2.jpg|upright|alt= Herma with the head of Herakles (Hermherakles). Museum of Ancient Messene, Greece.|thumb|Herma with the head of Herakles (Hermherakles). Museum of Ancient Messene, Greece]]
In ancient Greece the statues were thought to ward off harm or evil, an [[apotropaic]] function, and were placed at crossings, country borders and boundaries as protection, in front of temples, near to tombs, outside houses, in the [[Gymnasium (ancient Greece)|gymnasia]], [[palaestra]]e, libraries, [[portico]]es, and public places, at the corners of streets, on high roads as sign-posts, with distances inscribed upon them.<ref>Brunck, Anal. 3.197, no. 234</ref> Before his role as protector of merchants and travelers, [[Hermes]] was a [[Phallic saints|phallic god]], associated with fertility, luck, roads and borders. His name perhaps comes from the word ''herma'', referring to a square or rectangular pillar of stone, [[terracotta]], or bronze; a bust of Hermes' head, usually with a [[beard]],<ref>The image of a youthful, beardless Hermes was a development of the 5th century BCE.</ref> sat on the top of the pillar, and male [[genitals]] adorned the base. The surmounting heads were not, however, confined to those of Hermes; those of other gods and heroes, and even of distinguished mortals, were of frequent occurrence. In this case a compound was formed:<ref name="EB1911"/> ''[[Hermathena (composite of Hermes and Athena)|Hermathena]]'' (a herm of Athena), ''Hermares'' (of Ares), ''Hermherakles'' (of Herakles), ''Hermaphroditus'' (of Aphrodite—not to be confused with the son of Hermes and Aphrodite with the same name, ''[[Hermaphroditus]]'', who had the genitals of both sexes), ''[[Hermanubis]]'', ''Hermalcibiades'', and so on. In [[Athens]], where the ''hermai'' were most numerous and most venerated, they were placed outside houses as apotropes for [[good luck]].<ref>Thuc. 6.27; Aelian, Ael. VH 2.41; Suid. s.v. Pollux, 8.72; Athen. 10.437b</ref> They would be rubbed or anointed with olive oil and adorned with garlands or [[Wreath (attire)|wreaths]].<ref>Theophrast. Char. 16; comp. Genesis 28.18, 22, 31.45-48</ref> This superstition persists, for example the {{lang|it|[[Porcellino]]}} bronze boar of Florence (and numerous others like it around the world), where the nose is shiny from being continually touched for good luck or fertility.
[[Image:AGMA Tête d'Hermès.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Archaic bearded head of [[Hermes]] from a herm, early 5th century BC]]
In Roman and [[Renaissance]] versions (''[[Terminus (god)|termini]]''), the body was often shown from the waist up.  The form was also used for portrait busts of famous public figures, especially writers like [[Socrates]] and [[Plato]]. Anonymous female figures were often used from the [[Renaissance]] on, when herms were often attached to walls as decoration.