Erechtheum - Revision history

Irlandos at 21:19, May 8, 2012

2012-05-08T21:19:16Z

Irlandos at 11:18, December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T11:18:18Z

Irlandos: /* References */

2006-02-04T09:48:35Z

References

Irlandos at 09:47, February 4, 2006

2006-02-04T09:47:57Z

New page

The '''Erechtheum''', or '''[[Erechtheion]]''', is an ancient [[Greek temple]] on the north side of the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] of [[Athens]] in [[Greece]], notable for a design that is both elegant and unusual.

The temple as seen today was built between [[421 BCE]] and [[407 BCE]]. Its architect may have been [[Mnesicles]] or possibly [[Kallikrates]], and it derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the legendary [[Greek hero]] [[Erichthonius of Athens|Erichthonius]]. Some have suggested that it may have been built in honour of the legendary king [[Erechtheus]], who is said to have been buried nearby. It is believed to have been a replacement for an older temple destroyed by the Persians around [[480 BC]].

The Erectheum was associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians:
* the [[Palladion]], which was a xoanon (defined as a wooden effigy fallen from heaven - not man-made) of [[Athena Polias]] (Protectress of the City)
* the tomb of [[Cecrops]]
* the tomb of [[Erechtheus]]
* the marks of [[Poseidon]]'s trident and the salt water well (the "salt sea") that resulted from Poseidon's strike, the sacred olive tree planted by Athena in her successful rivalry with Poseidon for the city, and
* the precincts of [[Herse]], [[Pandrosus]] and [[Aglaurus]] (the three daughters of Cecrops)where Kekrops'grave and Athena's olive tree were located (adjacent to the erechtheion) and of the tribal heroes Pandion and Boutes.

The temple itself was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus. Within the foundations lived the sacred snake of the temple, which represented the spirit of [[Cecrops]] and whose well-being was thought essential for the safety of the city. The snake was fed honey-cakes by [[Canephorae]], the priestesses of Athena [[Polias]], by custom the women of the ancient family of the [[Eteoboutadae]]. Their name was The snake's occasional refusal to eat the cakes was thought a disastrous omen.

The need to preserve multiple adjacent sacred precincts likely explains the complex design. The main structure consists of up to four compartments, the largest being the east cella, with an [[Ionic order|Ionic]] portico on its east end. Other current thinking (Lesk, ''A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and Its Reception'' 2004. [[www.erechtheion.org/erechtheion]]) would have the entire interior at the lower level and the East porch used for access to the great altar of Athena Polias via a balcony and stair and also as a public viewing platform.

On the north side, there is another large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "porch of the maidens", with six draped female figures ([[Caryatids]]) as supporting columns. One of the [[Caryatids]] was removed by [[Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin|Lord Elgin]] in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, and was later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture plundered from the Parthenon). Athenian legend had it that at night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard wailing for their lost sister. Nowadays the five original Caryatids are displayed in [[helium]]-filled glass cases in the [[Acropolis Museum]] and are replaced ''in situ'' by exact replicas. The porch was built to conceal the giant 15-ft beam needed to support the southwest corner over the [[Kekropion]] after the building was drastically reduced in size and budget following the onset of the [[Peloponnesian War]].

The entire temple is on a slope, so the west and north sides are about 3 m (9 ft) lower than the south and east sides. It was built entirely of marble from [[Mount Pentelikos]], with friezes of black limestone from [[Eleusis]] which bore sculptures executed in relief in white marble. It had elaborately carved doorways and windows, and its columns were ornately decorated (far more so than is visible today); they were painted, gilded and highlighted with gilt bronze and multi-colored inset glass beads.

The intact Erechtheum was extensively described by the Roman geographer [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] (1.26.5 - 27.3), writing a century after it had been restored in the [[1st century]] AD. The internal layout has since been obscured by the temple's later use as a church and possibly as a Turkish harem.

==External link==
*[http://monolith.dnsalias.org/~marsares/acro/erecht/ Hellas:Net: The Erechteum]: Detailed analysis

{{Credit wikipedia}}

== References ==

* [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]
* Charles Weller, ''Athens and Its Monuments'' (Macmillan, 1913)
* G. P. Stevens and J. M. Paton, ''The Erechtheum'' (1927)
* I. T. Hill, ''The Ancient City of Athens'' (1953)

[[Category:Athens]]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 * the tomb of [[Erechtheus]]
 * the marks of [[Poseidon]]'s trident and the salt water well (the "salt sea") that resulted from Poseidon's strike, the sacred olive tree planted by Athena in her successful rivalry with Poseidon for the city, and
-* the precincts of [[Herse]], [[Pandrosus]] and [[Aglaurus]] (the three daughters of Cecrops)where Kekrops'grave and Athena's olive tree were located (adjacent to the erechtheion) and of the tribal heroes Pandion and Boutes.
+* the precincts of [[Herse]], [[Pandrosus]] and [[Aglaurus]] (the three daughters of Cecrops)where CeCrops'grave and Athena's olive tree were located (adjacent to the erechtheion) and of the tribal heroes Pandion and Boutes.
 The temple itself was dedicated to [[Athena]] and [[Poseidon]] Erechtheus. Within the foundations lived the sacred snake of the temple, which represented the spirit of [[Cecrops]] and whose well-being was thought essential for the safety of the city.  The snake was fed honey-cakes by [[Canephorae]], the priestesses of Athena [[Polias]], by custom the women of the ancient family of the [[Eteoboutadae]]. Their name was  The snake's occasional refusal to eat the cakes was thought a disastrous omen.
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 The need to preserve multiple adjacent sacred precincts likely explains the complex design.  The main structure consists of up to four compartments, the largest being the east cella, with an [[Ionic order|Ionic]] portico on its east end. Other current thinking (Lesk, ''A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and Its Reception'' 2004 [[www.erechtheion.org/erechtheion]]) would have the entire interior at the lower level and the East porch used for access to the great altar of Athena Polias via a balcony and stair and also as a public viewing platform.
-On the north side, there is another large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "porch of the maidens", with six draped female figures ([[Caryatids]]) as supporting columns. One of the [[Caryatids]] was removed by [[Lord Elgin]] in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, and was later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture plundered from the [[Parthenon]]). Athenian legend had it that at night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard wailing for their lost sister. Nowadays the five original Caryatids are displayed in [[helium]]-filled glass cases in the [[Acropolis Museum]] and are replaced ''in situ'' by exact replicas. The porch was built to conceal the giant 15-ft beam needed to support the southwest corner over the [[Kekropion]] after the building was drastically reduced in size and budget following the onset of the [[Peloponnesian War]].
+On the north side, there is another large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "porch of the maidens", with six draped female figures ([[Caryatids]]) as supporting columns. One of the [[Caryatids]] was removed by Lord Elgin in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, and was later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture plundered from the [[Parthenon]]). Athenian legend had it that at night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard wailing for their lost sister. Nowadays the five original Caryatids are displayed in helium-filled glass cases in the [[Acropolis Museum]] and are replaced ''in situ'' by exact replicas. The porch was built to conceal the giant 15-ft beam needed to support the southwest corner over the [[Kekropion]] after the building was drastically reduced in size and budget following the onset of the [[Peloponnesian War]].
 The entire temple is on a slope, so the west and north sides are about 3 m (9 ft) lower than the south and east sides. It was built entirely of marble from [[Mount Pentelikos]], with friezes of black limestone from [[Eleusis]] which bore sculptures executed in relief in white marble. It had elaborately carved doorways and windows, and its columns were ornately decorated (far more so than is visible today); they were painted, gilded and highlighted with gilt bronze and multi-colored inset glass beads.

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:48, February 4, 2006
Line 32:		Line 32:
	* I. T. Hill, ''The Ancient City of Athens'' (1953)		* I. T. Hill, ''The Ancient City of Athens'' (1953)

−	[[Category:Athens]]	+	[[Category:Buildings and structures in Athens]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The '''Erechtheum''', or '''[[Erechtheion]]''', is an ancient [[Greek temple]] on the north side of the [[Acropolis, Athens|Acropolis]] of [[Athens]] in [[Greece]], notable for a design that is both elegant and unusual.
-The temple as seen today was built between [[421 BCE]] and [[407 BCE]]. Its architect may have been [[Mnesicles]] or possibly [[Kallikrates]], and it derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the legendary [[Greek hero]] [[Erichthonius of Athens|Erichthonius]]. Some have suggested that it may have been built in honour of the legendary king [[Erechtheus]], who is said to have been buried nearby. It is believed to have been a replacement for an older temple destroyed by the Persians around [[480 BC]].
+The temple as seen today was built between [[421 BC]] and [[407 BC]]. Its architect may have been [[Mnesicles]] or possibly [[Kallikrates]], and it derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the legendary Greek hero [[Erichthonius of Athens|Erichthonius]]. Some have suggested that it may have been built in honour of the legendary king [[Erechtheus]], who is said to have been buried nearby. It is believed to have been a replacement for an older temple destroyed by the Persians around [[480 BC]].
 The Erectheum was associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians:
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 * the precincts of [[Herse]], [[Pandrosus]] and [[Aglaurus]] (the three daughters of Cecrops)where Kekrops'grave and Athena's olive tree were located (adjacent to the erechtheion) and of the tribal heroes Pandion and Boutes.
-The temple itself was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon Erechtheus. Within the foundations lived the sacred snake of the temple, which represented the spirit of [[Cecrops]] and whose well-being was thought essential for the safety of the city.  The snake was fed honey-cakes by [[Canephorae]], the priestesses of Athena [[Polias]], by custom the women of the ancient family of the [[Eteoboutadae]]. Their name was  The snake's occasional refusal to eat the cakes was thought a disastrous omen.
+The temple itself was dedicated to [[Athena]] and [[Poseidon]] Erechtheus. Within the foundations lived the sacred snake of the temple, which represented the spirit of [[Cecrops]] and whose well-being was thought essential for the safety of the city.  The snake was fed honey-cakes by [[Canephorae]], the priestesses of Athena [[Polias]], by custom the women of the ancient family of the [[Eteoboutadae]]. Their name was  The snake's occasional refusal to eat the cakes was thought a disastrous omen.
-The need to preserve multiple adjacent sacred precincts likely explains the complex design.  The main structure consists of up to four compartments, the largest being the east cella, with an [[Ionic order|Ionic]] portico on its east end. Other current thinking (Lesk, ''A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and Its Reception'' 2004. [[www.erechtheion.org/erechtheion]]) would have the entire interior at the lower level and the East porch used for access to the great altar of Athena Polias via a balcony and stair and also as a public viewing platform.
+The need to preserve multiple adjacent sacred precincts likely explains the complex design.  The main structure consists of up to four compartments, the largest being the east cella, with an [[Ionic order|Ionic]] portico on its east end. Other current thinking (Lesk, ''A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and Its Reception'' 2004 [[www.erechtheion.org/erechtheion]]) would have the entire interior at the lower level and the East porch used for access to the great altar of Athena Polias via a balcony and stair and also as a public viewing platform.
-On the north side, there is another large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "porch of the maidens", with six draped female figures ([[Caryatids]]) as supporting columns. One of the [[Caryatids]] was removed by [[Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin|Lord Elgin]] in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, and was later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture plundered from the Parthenon). Athenian legend had it that at night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard wailing for their lost sister. Nowadays the five original Caryatids are displayed in [[helium]]-filled glass cases in the [[Acropolis Museum]] and are replaced ''in situ'' by exact replicas. The porch was built to conceal the giant 15-ft beam needed to support the southwest corner over the [[Kekropion]] after the building was drastically reduced in size and budget following the onset of the [[Peloponnesian War]].
+On the north side, there is another large porch with columns, and on the south, the famous "porch of the maidens", with six draped female figures ([[Caryatids]]) as supporting columns. One of the [[Caryatids]] was removed by [[Lord Elgin]] in order to decorate his Scottish mansion, and was later sold to the British Museum (along with the pedimental and frieze sculpture plundered from the [[Parthenon]]). Athenian legend had it that at night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard wailing for their lost sister. Nowadays the five original Caryatids are displayed in [[helium]]-filled glass cases in the [[Acropolis Museum]] and are replaced ''in situ'' by exact replicas. The porch was built to conceal the giant 15-ft beam needed to support the southwest corner over the [[Kekropion]] after the building was drastically reduced in size and budget following the onset of the [[Peloponnesian War]].
 The entire temple is on a slope, so the west and north sides are about 3 m (9 ft) lower than the south and east sides. It was built entirely of marble from [[Mount Pentelikos]], with friezes of black limestone from [[Eleusis]] which bore sculptures executed in relief in white marble. It had elaborately carved doorways and windows, and its columns were ornately decorated (far more so than is visible today); they were painted, gilded and highlighted with gilt bronze and multi-colored inset glass beads.