White marble copy of ancient Roman statue of Sleeping Hermaphrodite

White marble copy of ancient Roman statue of Sleeping Hermaphroditus (or Sleeping Hermaphrodite) lying naked on a mattress, original discovered in Rome in 1618 near the Baths of Diocletian and now in Louvre, European, 1801-1900

Sleeping Hermaphroditus is an ancient Roman marble sculpture depicting the son of the Greek gods Hermes and Aphrodite. It was discovered in Rome before 1620 and restored by Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who added the marble buttoned mattress upon which the sleeping figure rests. Initially installed in the Villa Borghese, it was sold to France in the late 1700s and is now on display at The Louvre. The statue’s fame inspired numerous copies, including this example, which was purchased on behalf of Henry Wellcome in 1931.

The biological definition of hermaphroditism involves having both male and female reproductive organs or other sexual characteristics. It is named after Hermaphroditus, the Greek mythological figure. According to Ovid’s account, a water nymph called Salmacis became obsessed with Hermaphroditus and, after being rejected by him, begged the gods to be united with him forever. The fusion of their two bodies lead to the creation of an individual who was part man and part woman. Physical traits of both sexes can be seen in this sculpture. It is important to note that this term is no longer used to describe people, although it is still used in fields such as botany and zoology.