Bronze Statuette of Hermes Seated on a Rock in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 2010

Bronze Statuette of Hermes Seated on a Rock
Roman, 1st-2nd century AD
Adaptation of a Greek work of the 4th or 3rd century BC

Accession # 20.202

Hermes was known to the Romans as Mercury. While his principle character is that of the divine herald, for which he is often represented with the kerykeion (herald's staff), here he holds a purse in his hand, indicating his role as the god of commerce.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.