herma

2 definitions found

herma - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hermes \Her"mes\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?.]
     1. (Myth.) See Mercury.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Hermes Trismegistus [Gr. 'Ermh^s trisme`gistos, lit.,
           Hermes thrice greatest] was a late name of Hermes,
           especially as identified with the Egyptian god Thoth.
           He was the fabled inventor of astrology and alchemy.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Arch[ae]ology) 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. Hermetic

  Herma \Her"ma\, n.; pl. Herm[ae]. [L.]
     See Hermes,
  
     2.
        [1913 Webster]