Erechtheion and Its Caryatids Essay -- Acropolis, Athens, ancient Greec

Located opposite the Parthenon, the Erechtheion is one of the almost distinctive buildings standing on the Athenian Acropolis constructed between 421 and 406 BC. The Erechtheion replaced the Old tabernacle of Acropolis, which was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. The asymmetrical building was built of Pentelic marble, with friezes of inkiness Elusinian limestone to take applied white marble relief sculpture. ( Erechtheum (Erechtheion) ) Since the complex tabernacle sits on a slopping site, it has an irregular floor plan which consists of four put up with multiple functions. It housed a great variety of ancient cults and many reverend objects, including the venerable image of Athena Polias in the east cella, a flamboyant lamp made by Callimachus, a well containing sea water, which is know as the Erechtheian Sea, and the mark of Poseidons trident, sacred shrines like the altar of Poseidon, and the altars of Boutes and Hephaestus. (Roberts, Erechthum ) To the south-west of the bu ilding stood the chromatic tree, which is a gift of Athena to the city of Athens. The whole structure likewise consists of two porches, the north porch at the northwest corner is support by six tall Ionic columns, stands at a lower train and gives access to the western cella, while below its floor it was believed to be the posture where Zeus killed the legendary King Erechteus with a thunderbolt. (theacropolismuseum.gr) In the south-west corner, in that location stands a uniquely projecting porch which is the most well-known part of the Erechtheion. It is supported by six massive female statues, and hence named the Porch of the Maidens, with the supporting figures known as caryatids. Below it stood the grave of Kekrops, another legendary King of Athens. (theacropolismuseum.gr) The se... ...ty Press, 2007. Oxford Reference. 2007.3. The Erechtheion. The Acropolis Museum. http//www.theacropolismuseum.gr/en/content/erechtheion/04. Erechtheum. Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013) 1. literary Reference Center. Web. 5. Plommer, Hugh. Vitruvius and the Origin of Caryatids. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, Vol. 99 (1979), pp. 97-102. The Society for the forward motion of Hellenic Studies. 6. Shear, Ione Mylonas. Maidens in Greek Architecture The Origin of the Caryatids . In air de correspondance hellnique. Volume 123, livraison 1, 1999. pp. 65-85.7. Lesk, Alexandra L. A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and Its Reception, PhD thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2005.8. Edmondson, J. C., and MyiLibrary. Augustus. Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press, 2009. eBook schoolman Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 4 May 2014.