[1][2] The statue was created as a funerary sculpture and placed in the tomb of a youth (hence the imagery of Hermes, a chthonic god) around the second century AD.

[2] It was discovered in a small town called Atalante, after which it took its name, in Central Greece and was moved to Athens in the 1860s.

Hermes/the youth stands in contrapposto, supporting most of his weight on his left foot, while his right leg is relaxed.

[1][2] He bears a chlamys draped over his left shoulder and wound over his arm, then falling on his back and hanging on the tree-trunk support, so that Hermes is mostly naked.

[1] His head has thick and tousled short locks of hair, and it slightly turned to his right.