The figure can be identified as Hermes, patron god of the gymnasium, because it is very like another version (also on MyMiniFactory), where Hermes wears his usual winged sandals and kerykeion (magic wand). The young man stands in a relaxed, confident pose, his powerful physique bleinding the perfection of a young, toned athlete with an idealised image of a god. Many different versions of this statue survive from locations right across the Mediterranean, showing how popular the type was in ancient times. This statue, once at Kew Gardens in England, is on display for the first time in over 50 years after being reconstructed and conserved at the British Museum. It had been restored when first iscovered, as was the normal practice from the Renaissance to the 18th Century, and given new arms and a left leg. How the statue came to be a Kew Gardens remains uncertain. The base on which the statue stands is an ancient altar, dating to about 300-100 BC, decorated with garlands and bulls' skulls.

This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.