Πρόσταση των Κορών (Prostasis ton Koron)
Erechtheion, Acropolis of Athens — 421–406 BCE
The Porch of the Caryatids forms the south portico of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis of Athens. Built between 421 and 406 BCE, the temple was designed to accommodate several distinct cults on uneven ground, a constraint that resulted in its characteristic asymmetrical plan. In place of conventional columns, six sculpted female figures support the entablature.
The figures are carved as korai—standing women wearing long peplos garments—and function as structural supports rather than applied decoration. Each Caryatid is individually carved, differing subtly in stance, hairstyle, facial features, and the treatment of the drapery. Thick masses of braided hair reinforce the neck, the most structurally vulnerable part of the marble figure. Each stands with one leg slightly advanced, while the deeply carved vertical folds over the weight-bearing leg echo the fluting of an Ionic column. Three figures bear their weight on the right leg and three on the left, creating a balanced composition.
The term Caryatid does not appear in the building’s original inscriptions, which refer to the figures simply as korai ("maidens"). The name was introduced centuries later by the Roman architect Vitruvius, who associated it with Karyai, a town in Laconia, claiming that the figures represented women enslaved after the town sided with Persia during the Persian Wars. Another tradition instead connects the name with young women participating in festivals dedicated to Artemis Karyatis. Neither explanation can be confirmed, and both were recorded centuries after the construction of the Erechtheion.
The sculptures standing on the Acropolis today are replicas installed to protect the originals from weathering and atmospheric pollution. Five of the original Caryatids are preserved in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The sixth was removed by Lord Elgin in the early nineteenth century and is now housed in the British Museum in London, where it remains the subject of ongoing discussions concerning its return to Greece.
Acropolis of Athens, Athens, Greece
Camera: Canon EOS 77D / 9000D
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | Contemporary
Capture Information:
Focal Length: 150.0 mm
Shutter Speed: 1/500
Aperture: f/7.1
ISO: 100
Photo Taken: May 19, 2026
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