Erechtheion
Acropolis, Athens, Greece
TEXT Beneath Illustrations
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Top: leaf and dart; leaf and dart; egg and dart; Palm tree leaves |
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Ionic column |
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Olive tree to commemorate Athena's victory over Poseidon |
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Built between 421 and 406 BC, the Erechtheion is situated on the most sacred site of the Acropolis. It is said to be where Poseidon left his trident marks in a rock, and Athena's olive tree sprouted, in their battle for possession of the city. Named after Erechtheus, one of the mythical kings of Athens, the temple was a sanctuary to both Athena Polias, and Erechtheus-Poseidon.Famed for its elegant and extremely ornate Ionic architecture and caryatid columns in the shape of women, this extraordinary monument is built on different levels. The large rectangular cella (SELL a - inner room) was divided into three rooms. The cella was bounded by north, east, and south porticoes. The south is the Porch of the Caryatids, the maiden statues which are now in the Acropolis Museum.
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