What happened at the Erechtheion?

480 BCE – Persians attack the city of Athens and damage all of the buildings. instigated by Pericles, supervised by Pheidias, and paid for by surplus from the war treasury of the Delian League. 421 BCE – The construction of The Erechtheion begun. This was happening “during the so-called Peace of Nikias.

What was the most important thing kept in the Erechtheion in Athens?

And in this location was kept the olivewood statue of Athena Polias (Athena of the City), the Athenians’ most sacred relic, an object so ancient that not even they knew where it had come from.

What was the purpose of the Erechtheion?

The Erechtheion was named after the demi-god Erechtheus (Cartwright). The primary function for the Erechtheion was to to house the ancient wooden cult statue of Athena, but also served other purposes as discussed below (Cartwright).

What is unique about the Erechtheion temple on the Athenian Acropolis?

The Erechtheion is unique in the corpus of Greek temples in that its asymmetrical composition doesn’t conform to the canon of Greek classical architecture.

What was the purpose of the Propylaea?

The Propylaea was the monumental gateway to the Acropolis commissioned by the Athenian leader Pericles in order to rebuild the Acropolis at the conclusion of the Persian Wars.

Is the Erechtheion the same as the Parthenon?

The Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena. The western part of the Erechtheion was dedicated to the worship of Athena Polias (patron deity of Athens), while the eastern part was devoted to Poseidon-Erechtheus (Wycherley 1978). The Parthenon was simple and housed one goddess only.

Why is there a olive tree at the Erechtheion?

The olive tree has been considered sacred by the Greeks – ancient and modern- for thousands of years. It was the sacred tree of the goddess Athena and Athens. The olive branch is a sign of peace, when made into a wreath it is a trophy for olympic athletes.

What is the message of the caryatid porch on the Erechtheion?

Interestingly, the porch of the Erechtheion stands over what was believed to be the tomb of the mythical king Kekrops and perhaps the Caryatids and their libation vessels are a tribute to this fact – libations were poured into the ground as an offering to the dead during religious festivals.

Who was the Erechtheion built for?

Mnesikles
Érechthéion/Architects

What makes the Erechtheion unique?

The Erechtheion is an intricate temple. The temple is unusual in that it incorporates two porches (prostaseis); one at the northwest corner which is supported by tall Ionic columns, and one at the south-west corner which is supported by six massive female statues, the famous Caryatids.

Why is the Erechtheion famous?

The Erechtheion (or Erechtheum) is an ancient Greek temple constructed on the acropolis of Athens between 421 and 406 BCE in the Golden Age of the city in order to house the ancient wooden cult statue of Athena and generally glorify the great city at the height of its power and influence.

Where did the Erechtheion of Athens get its name?

The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens, in Greece. The temple takes its name from Poseidon Erechtheus, the mythical king of Attica, but it is actually the Temple of Athena Polias (guardian of the city) and it is also the place of worship of other very ancient deities…

When was the Erechtheion Temple in Athens built?

The Erechtheion or Erechtheum ( / ɪˈrɛkθiəm, ˌɛrɪkˈθiːəm /; Ancient Greek: Ἐρέχθειον, Greek: Ερέχθειο) is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece which was dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon . The temple as seen today was built between 421 and 406 BC.

When was the Erechtheion built on the Acropolis?

The Erechtheion was begun in about 420BC. It was built next to an old temple which it was designed to replace. It is the youngest temple on the Acropolis. Erechtheus (or Erechthonios) is thought to have been a very ancient king of Athens, who was also thought to have been a god.

Why was the Erechtheion built in ancient Greece?

The Erechtheion was built as a replacement for the “Old Temple” (the foundations of which now lay between it and the Parthenon), and to house all the shrines and rituals that once took place there. The east end of the Erechtheion was dedicated to Athena Polias (protector of the earth and fertility)…