Acropolis Erechtion Karyatides Athena the Goddess

The last addition to the Acropolis before the end of the 5th century B.C. was the new temple of Athena Polias, known throughout history as the Erechtheum, after the Attic name for Poseidon (the old patron of the city). It was built north of the Parthenon, between 421 and 405 B.C, to a plan by Philocles or according to some - Callicrates or Mnesicles. The Ionic portico with six columns on the east gives access to the cella, where the ancient wooden cult icon of Athena Polias was devotedly kept. On the west side, on different levels, were spaces for the cults of Poseidon Erechtheum, Hephaestus, the hero Butte and the serpent - boy Erichthonius, particularly dear to Athena.

The Erectheum seen here from southwest was the last building erected on the Acropolis before the end of 5th century BC. It replayed an ancient temple of Athena Polias, which was destroyed during the Persian Wars. Also visible in this view is a descendant of the legendary sacred olive tree, the gift of Athena.

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Supporting the porch in the place of columns are the celebrated Caryatids, six statues of young women in Ionian dress, an architectural device that succeeds in combining the refined elegance of Ionic with the formal perfection of Phidias artistic expression.

It seems likely that the designer of the Caryatids - whose forced immobility cannot restrain their intrinsic vitality was Alcamenes, the main interest of the ensemble lies in the configuration of its buildings, built on different levels to follow the rising, rocky terrain of the Acropolis. There is also evidence of great precision in the way that the buildings respect several ancient sacred sites.

Outside the building on the west side grew the sacred olive tree traditionally believed to be the gift of Athena in her dispute with Poseidon. On the north side a high Ionic portico protected the mark left by the trident thrown by Poseidon to make a sea -water spring gush from the rock.

The only decorative feature of the entire temple was a long frieze in Eleusinian black stone on which relief figures in Pentelic marble were mounted, portraying scenes of Attic ceremonies and episodes involving Erichthonius. As the architect clearly intended, the viewer's gaze is immediately drawn to the south side and the porch which protected the tomb of the mythical king Cecrops. Athens Tour