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herm
herm. A type of sculpture consisting of an armless bust or head of a man surmounting a quadrangular shaft that tapers slightly towards the bottom. Herms appear in Greek art from the 6th century bc and in early examples the shaft was usually carved with an erect phallus protruding from it (the name derives from Hermes, who was a fertility deity and the god of roads and boundaries, as well as the messenger of the gods). They were used mainly out of doors, as milestones, signposts, boundary markers, memorials, and so on. Similar sculptures were also made by the Romans; some of them were adorned with representations of Terminus, the god of boundaries, from which the word ‘term’ derives. Herms and terms are not always precisely distinguished, but the figurative sculpture on a term can feature the torso and arms, whereas that on a herm is confined to the head or little more. Since the Renaissance both types have become part of the general vocabulary of decorative art (see Sambin).
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IAN CHILVERS. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. IAN CHILVERS. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-herm.html IAN CHILVERS. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Art. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O2-herm.html |
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herm
herm, hermes. Statue composed of a head and neck or head and shoulders (often representing Hermes or Mercury) joined to a quad-rangular shaft proportioned to be the same height as a human body and slightly tapered downwards, found in Antiquity, frequently with the male reproductive organs protruding from the front face of the shaft. The form was revived from Renaissance times, often used for garden-ornaments (e.g. at the Palazzo Farnese, Caprarola (1547–9)), and from C18 became a common motif, often with female head and frequently with the feet showing at the base (since Antiquity the phallic imagery has normally been avoided). Herms are distinct from terms in that they do not have torsos or waists, and are without arms, but may have volute-like forms instead of shoulders.
Bibliography J. Curl (1992); |
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "herm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "herm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-herm.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "herm." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-herm.html |
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herm
herm , in 6th-century Greek art, vertical pillar surmounted by a bearded human head and often having a phallus below. These structures were considered sacred to Hermes. They were placed on street corners in Athens and used outside the city as milestones. By the end of the Hellenistic era the form was employed for portraiture. |
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"herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-herm.html "herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-herm.html |
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Herm
Herm (island) Channel Islands. Erm 1087, Erme 1361. A Brittonic development of its ancient Roman name Sarmia (recorded thus in the 4th-cent. Maritime Itinerary), of unknown origin and meaning.
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A. D. MILLS. "Herm." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Herm." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Herm.html A. D. MILLS. "Herm." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Herm.html |
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herm
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-herm.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "herm." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-herm.html |
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Herm
Herm see Channel Islands . |
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Cite this article
"Herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Herm.html "Herm." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Herm.html |
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herm
herm
•affirm, berm, confirm, firm, germ, herm, midterm, perm, sperm, squirm, term, therm, worm
•pachyderm • echinoderm
•wheatgerm • endosperm
•gymnosperm • isogeotherm
•ragworm • flatworm • threadworm
•tapeworm
•eelworm, mealworm
•silkworm • ringworm • inchworm
•blindworm • lobworm • roundworm
•slow-worm • screw worm
•woodworm
•bookworm, hookworm
•bloodworm • lugworm • lungworm
•earthworm
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"herm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "herm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-herm.html "herm." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-herm.html |
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