Hermes dug up in Athens

The head of an ancient statue of the Greek god Hermes has been unearthed during excavations for sewage system improvements in central Athens. The artwork dates to the late 4th century BC or early 3rd century BC. The marble head was found 1.3 metres (four feet) under the pavement on the busy Aiolou street. Herms or Hermas are sculptures, usually of the head of Hermes, and sometimes a torso, which were set on a squared column erected at road crossings as signs. According to Greek mythology, Hermes was the son of Zeus and the messenger of the gods, who also protected travellers and merchants.