In this article the main topics are rituals and offerings regarding the Herms and Hermes. Herms are monuments consisting of a detailed head with a rectangular prism or cylinder shaped shaft, which originally depicted the god Hermes but over time came to represent other deities, demigods, heroes and even politically and culturally significant people such as poets or governors as well. Although there are examples where the upper part of the torso is also sculpted most of the herms feature only the designated characters head and the depiction of the phallus. Initially produced from readily available materials such as wood, herms were later made from a variety of different materials such as; marble, metal and terracotta.Although at first herms only depicted god Hermes; in later periods gods, goddesses and demigods such as Apollon, Herakles and Aphrodite are also depicted in this form. Thanks to the worship of the Hermes being connected to various areas such as; God of crossroads or protector god of gymnasiums and agoras we have a myriad of examples of Hermes herms. The Herms of Hermes were associated with a variety of cults related to travel, marriage, athletics, fortune, divination and more. This diversity necessitated research into the cult of Herm and its practices in Anatolia. The aim was to obtain detailed information about the types of cults specific to Hermes-Herm, the ways in which the cult was practiced, and the areas where it spread. After a brief mention of the duties of Hermes such as God of crossroads, wayfarers, herders and meadows as well as the guider of souls, which places the herm forms of this god is found and their meanings are examined. After an overview of the depictions of Hermes herms; ways of worship, details of libation and types of offerings are examined. Findings such as coins, parapets and steles as well as ancient texts are our primary sources to understand this topic. Research shows that cult of Hermes herms were more prominently featured in depictions related to cults of sports and death. Athletes offered sacrifices to Hermes to guarantee victory, while people sought to benefit from the god's guidance after death through offerings. Herms can be found as stand alone structures such as steles and figurines or as vital elements of many depictions in these depictions herms serves either as the main figure or as a sporting motif. In addition to these depictions, it is understood that Hermes herms were often invoked for fertility, good luck and fortune. Herm figures of this type are mostly depicted as single pieces rather than as part of a composition.
Dilşad Ayşe Kolenoğlu (Wed,) studied this question.