Herm
|
| This hermaic sculpture depicts an old philosopher; it dates from the 2nd century BC. |
A herm (or herma) is a rectangular pillar topped with a head or bust. It is believed these structures were used in Ancient Greece to mark boundaries and were often inscribed with distances.
The word herm may be representative of the Greek phrase for blocks of stone, but it may also be linked to the Greek god, Hermes. Associated with roads and borders, Hermes was a phallic god connected to the concepts of luck and fertility. Consequently, hermae frequently included carvings of genitals at the suitable height in the otherwise plain base. This symbol was apparently meant to ward off evil.
The herm was later adopted by the Romans who used it as a boundary marker. It was also a method of indicating boundaries in Renaissance and post-Renaissance times.
Herms (or hermae) sometimes took on purely decorative functions and served as sculpture-topped pedestals, either as single units or as pillars supporting figures. This application of the herm may be linked to structural supports such as the telamon (the Roman term) or atlas (also known as atlant, or atlante or atlantid), which were architectural components (such as columns, piers or pilasters) sculpted in a human form.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Quality Planning for Micro and Small to Medium Sized Enterprises
A CIOB Academy Technical Information sheet.
A briefing on fall protection systems for designers
A legal requirement and an ethical must.
CIOB Ireland launches manifesto for 2024 General Election
A vision for a sustainable, high-quality built environment that benefits all members of society.
Local leaders gain new powers to support local high streets
High Street Rental Auctions to be introduced from December.
Infrastructure sector posts second gain for October
With a boost for housebuilder and commercial developer contract awards.
Sustainable construction design teams survey
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Design: Your Voice Matters.
COP29; impacts of construction and updates
Amid criticism, open letters and calls for reform.
The properties of conservation rooflights
Things to consider when choosing the right product.
Adapting to meet changing needs.
London Build: A festival of construction
Co-located with the London Build Fire & Security Expo.
Tasked with locating groups of 10,000 homes with opportunity.
Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market
What are the benefits, barriers and underlying principles.
Information Management Initiative IMI
Building sector-transforming capabilities in emerging technologies.
Recent study of UK households reveals chilling home truths
Poor insulation, EPC knowledge and lack of understanding as to what retrofit might offer.
Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Overview, regulations, detail calculations and much more.
Why the construction sector must embrace workplace mental health support
Let’s talk; more importantly now, than ever.
Ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems
A key growth area, including impacts for construction.