The most famous of the Hermes saints is the prefect of Rome of Greek origin who was persecuted because of his Christian faith at the time of Trajan. The body was buried along the ancient Via Salaria, where an archaeological investigation was conducted in the 30s of the 20th century which brought to light marble fragments in which a martyr of Greek origin is praised. Furthermore, other archaeological finds testify to the presence of a church built over the tomb of the saint, on whose facade was the word “Herme”. The cult of Hermes thus spread to many Italian cities. He is represented as a bishop despite the scant information on his life, but it was understood that the Saint had an important role from his monumental tomb.

Tales of the statue from Dome’s building site:

The statue that rests on the G98 Spire was the subject of an artistic competition announced by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano in 1952, as evidenced by the archive documents of the Duomo; the spire was put into operation the following year. Of the many projects, the one by the young girl “Liliana Nocera” who grew up under the masters of Brera, won. The artist imagined a Saint Hermes with a bishop’s mitre and intent on a gesture of sweetness: he is focused on the little dove he holds in his hands, a symbol of peace, of the Holy Spirit and also of the soul, fragile and delicate, but also bright and ready to take flight.