Erechtheion Facts: Learn About This Ancient Greek Temple

The Erechtheion refers to an Ancient Greek temple that was dedicated to both the god Poseidon and the goddess Athena.

The Erechtheion temple was built in ancient Athens, on the site of a previous shrine dedicated to Erechtheus, which had been destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC. It is one of the famed Acropolis monuments, situated on the upper reaches of the ancient citadel of Athens.

This monument is one of the most well-known Ancient Greek temples and is home to some amazing architecture, as well as rich with the history of the Ancient Greeks. Keep reading to learn more about this pinnacle of Ancient Greek architecture, and explore this mysterious temple of Athena and Poseidon with us!

Location Of The Erechtheion

The Erecntheion temple is located on the Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece.

• The temple consists of two buildings, one dedicated to Athena Polias (goddess) called Old Temple or Hekatompedon, with another small building that houses six columns in the shape of beautiful maidens called Caryatids supporting a roof over their heads. This is known as the Porch of Caryatids.
• The Caryatids are meant to represent the women of Caryae, who were forced to take part in laborious jobs after the city of Athens sided with the Persians when they invaded Greece for the second time.
• The Greeks saw this as an act of betrayal and they took out their vengeance on the women of Caryae, subjecting them to hold up the roof of the temple over their heads for eternity.
• Each maiden was carved from a singular block of Pentelic marble, which was used instead of columns to support the porch roof.
• This legendary porch is said to have once housed the Palladium, which was a regal wooden statue of Athena Polias.

History Of The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is the name of an Ancient Greek temple situated on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.

• It was built as an homage to both Athena and Poseidon, making it a key part of Athenian mythology. The temple as it now stands is a composite of several different building periods.
• The original temple is thought to have been built in the late sixth century BC but was partially destroyed during the Persian attack in 480 BC.
• Its successor was erected around 421 BC, incorporating many features of the earlier structure. In 406 BC, after Athens had been defeated by Sparta, the Erechtheion was extensively damaged by the Spartans.
• It was fully rebuilt by 404 BC, but during the Athenian War of Independence (1821-32), it was again damaged by the Ottoman Turks.
• The Erechtheion temple is one of the most famous and distinctive structures in Athens, due to its unusual, asymmetrical design and its incorporation of sculpture from both Athena's and Poseidon's realms.
• The temple has been extensively studied and written about by archaeologists over the years and is a popular tourist attraction.

Architectural Details Of The Erechtheion

The Erechtheion is located on the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. It is thought to be dedicated to the Olympians Athena and Poseidon. The Erechtheion was completed in 421 BC.

• The temple's exterior is made of Pentelic marble, while the interior features Ionic columns, a popular technique in that time.
• The Erechtheion also contains several other famous sculptures and architectural features such as the 'Porch of the Maidens', which is supported by six female figures known as Caryatids.
• One of these was removed by Lord Elgin in 1801 but has since been moved to the British Museum. This prompted the legend that the remaining five sisters could be heard wailing their hearts out at night, lamenting for their missing sister to return.
• However, all the maidens seen on the south porch today are replicas. The originals have been moved to the Acropolis Museum, to protect them from further deterioration.
• The replicas closely imitate the original, and give tourists a feel of how it would have been to gaze upon this glorious monument as the Ancient Athenians once did!
• The exterior of this structure faces west while another entrance lays on the east side.
• There is also an underground chamber accessed through steps found in front of the eastern doorway which was sacred because it contained relics from mythological events related to Athens' history such as Poseidon's trident and Erechtheus' serpent-guardian.
• The design of the temple reflects the mixed dedication because there are two large temples at each end and a smaller Ionic temple between them.
• The larger western cella contained a statue of Athena Polias along with other statues dedicated to her cult. Mmeanwhile, both eastern cells were used for the worship of Poseidon, the god of the sea.
• The asymmetrical structure of the building was conceived on the grounds that none of the ancient shrines on the ground should be disturbed, as well as successfully building a temple on the uneven terrain.
• Another famous structure of the temple is the roof, made up entirely of Pentelic marble tiles that were designed with acroteria (ornamental finials) at each corner. These would have been painted bright red or blue when new!
• It also stands atop an artificial platform built into Mount Lycabettus called Areopagus Hill. This hill provides views over Athens' ancient Agora marketplace as well as the modern cityscape.
• There were once a number of beautiful carvings along the walls of the temple. The North porch had a scene featuring an elaborate chariot race, and a scene depicting the birth of King Erechtheus on the east porch.
• The Erechtheion is a must-see destination for any visitor to Athens and is considered one of the most important and beautiful temples in Greece. The place has a significant historical and archaeological value.

Significance Of The Erechtheion

The architect of the Erechtheion temple may have been Mnesikles, who also designed the gates of Propylaea. It derived its name from a shrine dedicated to the King of Athens, Erechtheus, who judged the legendary contest between Athena and Poseidon for who would become the patron god for the ancient city of Athens.

• Both the mason and sculptor of the structure were Phidias, who was employed by Pericles to build both this temple and the Parthenon (447-438 BC).
• Though popular belief is that the temple was built in honor of both Athena and Poseidon, as the two cults were in competition to become the city's main deity. It actually has shrines dedicated to a number of other deities as well, including Hephaestus, Boutes and King Erechtheus as well!
• There is also an altar built for Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, near the east porch.
• It also supposedly houses the tomb of King Cerecops, the very first king of Athens, right under the porch of the Caryatids.
• The Erechtheion is a significant architectural marvel for a number of reasons. It's one of the very few Ancient Greek temples that wasn't completely destroyed by the Persians.
• Its distinctive 'Porch of Maidens' features six female figures known as caryatids, and is a sight to behold. These sculptures are appreciated by many and thought to be some of the finest examples of Ancient Greek art to date.
• According to Greek mythology, there once lived a sacred snake in the premises of the temple, who was looked after by the priestess and fed honey-cakes. This snake was considered to be extremely important for the welfare and wellbeing of the city of Athens. Some even thought the snake to be an incarnation of King Erechtheus himself.
• There is also a sacred olive tree that stands right in front of the temple. It is thought to be at the very same spot where goddess Athena planted the very first olive tree as a present to the people of Athens, which ultimately won her the title of Patron god of the city.
• There is also a saltwater well nearby, which is said to be the result of a saltwater spring erupting from the ground where Poseidon struck it with his trident.
• As the legend goes, both the saltwater spring and the olive tree were a part of the contest, with the people of Athens judging to see which gift was better. As the people saw the olive tree as the more bountiful gift, Athena was declared as the patron of the city, and Athens is named after her!
• Olives continue to be a staple in Greek cooking today, and many farmers in the Mediterranean grow this golden fruit.
• Some other sights in the vicinity are the iconic Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike, and the gates of Propylaea which once guarded the Athenian Acropolis.
• The Erecthenion is just one of the beautiful ancient buildings of Greece, all of which are steeped in history and mythology. So, if you ever visit Greece, don't forget to visit the amazing Acropolis!