- See Mercury. - Originally, a boundary stone dedicated to Hermes as the god
of boundaries, and therefore bearing in some cases a head, or head and
shoulders, placed upon a quadrangular pillar whose height is that of
the body belonging to the head, sometimes having feet or other parts of
the body sculptured upon it. These figures, though often representing
Hermes, were used for other divinities, and even, in later times, for
portraits of human beings. Called also herma. See Terminal statue,
under Terminal.
Definition
[ n.]