Erechtheion
Alternate spelling: Erechtheum
Acropolis, Athens, Greece

Erechtheion pronunciation: eh REK thee un
Erechtheum pronunciation: eh REK thee um

See also: Erechtheion and Albright-Knox Art Gallery

December 2018 photos

Left:  Erechtheion/Erechtheum    ...   Right:  Parthenon "Erechtheum, ionic temple of Athena, built during 421–405 BC on the Acropolis at Athens, famous largely for its complexity and for the exquisite perfection of its details. The temple’s Ionic capitals are the most beautiful that Greece produced, and its distinctive porch, supported by caryatid figures, is unequaled in classical architecture." - Encyclopaedia Britannica (online Dec. 2018)

East  Elevation Left background:   Parthenon   ...   Right: East elevation of the Erechtheum   ...   "The elegance and delicate forms of the Erechtheion contrast sharply with the neighboring Parthenon that counter-balances the architectural complex with its majestic, Doric presence. " - Ancient Greece,org (online Dec. 2018) East elevation   ...    Pentelic marble   ...     Ionic  hexastyle portico   ...   "While the Parthenon was the most impressive temple on the Acropolis, another building, the Erechtheion was built to accommodate the religious rituals that the old temple housed. The Erechtheion construction was concluded in 406 BCE.   ...   Of the interior plan of the Erechtheion we know very little. Many modern plans depict it as divided into two or more rooms, and one could guess that there were more than one levels in the original plan. The temple however has undergone major rebuilding phases through the centuries making its original interior make up a subject of conjecture. It was damaged first in classical times, perhaps even before it was finished, by a major fire before it was subsequently renovated. Later when it was converted into a Christian Basilica in the seventh century CE the interior walls were removed and new ones were built. During the Ottoman Empire the temple was converted to a harem and the north porch was walled up." - Ancient Greece,org (online Dec. 2018) East elevation   ...   Note upper right pediment remnants  (detailed below:) East elevation   ...   Pediment ornamented with egg-and-dart and bead-and-reel moldings   ...   Leaf-and-dart and bead-and-reel moldings  East elevation   ...    Ionic columns   Frieze:  Fluted Ionic columns  ...   Egg-and-dart molding  ...   Anthemia   East elevation   ...   Lower left frieze:   bead-and-reel molding    ...     Egg-and-dart molding  ...   Anthemia Ionic column:   Egg-and-dart molding   ...   Volutes   ...   Guilloche  ...    Egg-and-dart molding   ...    Bead-and-reel molding   ...   Anthemia East elevation   ...   Frieze:     Egg-and-dart molding  ...   Bead-and-reel molding    ...    Egg-and-dart molding  ...   Anthemia Ionic column:   ...     Egg-and-dart molding   ...   Volutes   ...   Guilloche  ...    Egg-and-dart molding   ...    Bead-and-reel molding   ...   Anthemia

North Elevation North elevation   ...   Lighter sections are contemporary North elevation   ...   Coffered  ceiling   Ionic column:   Flanking  balusters   ...   Egg-and-dart molding  ...  Anthemia   ...   Fluted shaft North elevation   ...   Coffered  ceiling   North elevation   ...   Coffered  ceiling  North elevation   ...   Note column bases which are detailed below: North elevation   ...   Guilloche molding between  fluted shaft  and  column base North elevation   ...   Ancone supporting cornice on entrance surround   ...   Four details below: North elevation   ...   Ancone North elevation   ...   Surround detail #1: Egg-and-dart molding  ...     Bead-and-reel molding   ...   Anthemia  North elevation   ...   Surround detail #2:  Anthemia    ...   Bead-and-reel molding   ...   Egg-and-dart molding  ...    Rosettes North elevation   ...   Surround detail #3: Egg-and-dart molding  ...    Bead-and-reel molding   ...   Rosette   ...   Leaf-and-dart molding

West Elevation West elevation   ...   Note the difference in ground level from one side to the other   ... "The Erechtheion is an intricate temple. It sprang from a complex plan that was designed to accommodate the radically uneven ground on the site, and to avoid disturbing sacred shrines like the altars to Poseidon (Erechtheus), and Hephaestus, or the spot where Poseidon hit the Acropolis with his trident.  Other shrines that needed to be accommodated included the sacred olive tree, a well containing sea water (the Erechtheian Sea), the tomb of Kekrops, and the Pandrosion sanctuary." - Ancient Greece,org (online Dec. 2018) West elevation   ...   Athena's sacred olive tree West elevation   ...   Note  coffered  ceiling (detailed below:)   ...   Reproduction columns ("korai") sculpted as draped female figures - caryatids - serving as supports West elevation

South elevation - Caryatid Portico /"Porch of the Maidens" Left: West elevation   ...   Right: South elevation "The Caryatids [ pronounced: care ee ATIDS] have become the temple’s signature feature, as they stand and seem to casually support the weight of the porch’s roof on their heads. Their identification, or the purpose for such elaborate column treatment is lost through the centuries, but it was by no means a new feature in Greek architecture. All the Caryatids on site today are exact replicas, while the originals are protected by the corrosive air of modern Athens in the Acropolis museum. [see below:] One of the six Caryatids can be seen in the London museum having been appropriated by Lord Elgin along with the Parthenon marbles." - Ancient Greece,org (online Dec. 2018) Caryatid portico Caryatid portico   ...   Two details below: Scupper   ...   Dentil molding   ...   Leaf-and-dart molding   ...   Rosettes   ...   Abacus   ...   Egg-and-dart molding   ...   Bead-and-reel molding Reproduction caryatid

Acropolis Museum - The Original Caryatids December 2018 photos Statue #1 Statue #1 Statue #1 Statue #2 Statue #2 Statue #2 Statue #2 Statue #3 Statue #3 Statue #3 Statue #3 Statue #3 Statue #4 Statue #4 Statue #5

See also:  Erechtheion and Albright-Knox Art Gallery