What happened at the Erechtheion?

What happened at the Erechtheion?

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.

Which building was built first on the Acropolis?

Around 490 B.C., the Athenians started building a majestic marble temple known as the Old Parthenon.

What is a male caryatid called?

An atlas or telamon is a male version of a caryatid, i.e. a sculpted male statue serving as an architectural support.

What are the three temples on the Acropolis?

History of the Acropolis The three temples of major importance, the Parthenon, the Erechteion and the Temple of Nike, were erected during the classical period (450-330 B.C.) on the remains of earlier temples. All three of them are dedicated to different aspects of the Goddess Athena.

Is there a building called the Erechtheion in Athens?

There is also a building [in Athens] called the Erekhtheion . . . Inside the entrance are altars, one to Poseidon, on which in obedience to an oracle they sacrifice also to Erekhtheus, the second to the hero Boutes, and the third to Hephaistos . . . here is also inside–the building is double–sea-water in a cistern.

When was the Erechtheum of the Acropolis built?

The Erechtheion, is a temple of Ionic style on the Acropolis in Athens, it was built between 420 to 406 BC .

What kind of marble is the Erechtheion Temple made of?

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 Pentelikon, with friezes of black limestone from Eleusis which bore sculptures executed in relief in white marble.

When did the construction of the Erechtheion begin?

Construction on the marble temple began in 420 BCE and continued on until 406 BCE ( Venieri, 2012). Beside its primary purpose as a temple, the Erechtheion was also used as a Christian basilica in 600 AD.