Address: Greece, Athens, Acropolis of Athens
Start of construction: 421 BC e.
Completion of construction: 406 BC e.
Architect: Mnesicles and Phidias
Coordinates: 37°58"19.6"N 23°43"35.5"E

Content:

Short description

If we consider the most significant temples for the ancient Greeks, then, of course, the main one is the legendary Parthenon.

The second most important is the Temple of the Erechtheion, or, as it is more simply called by numerous guides conducting excursions around Athens, the Erechtheion. Like most ancient architectural monuments located in the capital of Greece, the Erechtheion temple was badly damaged by numerous wars and looting.

View of the temple from the southwest

The inexorable passage of time also took its toll on the majestic building, of which only ruins have survived to this day. As we know from history, in the Parthenon all the inhabitants of Athens offered their prayers to the gods, but the Temple of the Erechtheion was intended for mysterious rites and sacrifices, which were carried out exclusively by priests who had almost unlimited power in Athens. It is for this reason that all historians are almost unanimous in the opinion that the Erechtheion, located on the Acropolis, slightly north of the Parthenon, was a sacred place for the population of Athens, in which there was a huge statue of the patroness of the city, Pallas Athena.

Many tourists who come to see the sights of Greece mistakenly believe that the Temple of the Erechtheion was dedicated to the cult of the goddess Athena. There is undoubtedly some truth in this, however, according to some documents, chronicles and descriptions that have survived to this day, as well as according to the results of archaeological excavations, a certain conclusion can be drawn: in the temple, the priests brought gifts not only to Athena, but also to Poseidon and himself Erechtheion.

View of the western façade of the temple

“Where did the name of the temple come from? In honor of what event was the second most important sanctuary of the Acropolis built? What rituals, hidden from the eyes of the Athenians, were the priests performing within its walls, and what shrines were kept in the Erechtheion?” - these are most of the questions that guides and historians are asked. Alas, we can only talk about the interior decoration of the great temple based on the descriptions of ancient travelers. As you know, in ancient times Athens was the subject of contention between numerous invaders, and when the city was practically deserted, it became a real “godsend” for treasure hunters and looters. Therefore, the ruins of the Erechtheion and its most interesting history, which, like everything in Greece, is shrouded in numerous myths and legends, are all that remains for the modern generation.

Origin of the name and myths associated with the Erechtheion Temple

Many people probably know that the capital of modern Greece, according to ancient myth, got its name from the name of the ancient pagan goddess. She argued with Poseidon for the right to patronize the ancient Greek city. In the place where Poseidon struck the ground with great force with his trident, and Pallas Athena showed the townspeople a beautiful olive tree, the Temple of the Erechtheion was built.

View of the temple from the Parthenon

However, this myth does not at all explain the origin of the name of the ancient sanctuary. More precisely, it does not explain the name of the temple, which has survived to this day. The thing is that after its construction, the temple was dedicated to Athena, and the ancient townspeople called it “the temple in which the ancient, majestic statue of the patroness of the city is kept.” Only after Athens became part of the Great Roman Empire did the temple begin to be called, as it is now, the Erechtheion.

Modern historians cannot explain what caused the change in the name of the temple. However, there is another myth that somehow “sheds light” on the question: “Why did the ancient temple dedicated to the goddess Athena come to be called the Erechtheion?” The legend, which most likely appeared already under the Romans, tells a rather confusing story about the heroes Erechtheus and Erichthonius. True, it is not entirely clear whether these are two heroes, or one who simply had more than one name. This is where historians cannot come to a common opinion: one part of them says that the temple was built in honor of Erichthonius, and the other part claims that Erechtheus was the son of the brave Erichthonius and himself accomplished many feats, and it was in his honor that the temple was named.

View of the Ionic colonnade

These versions are so confusing and so implausible that there is no point in going deeper into them. It is much easier to explain the name of the Temple of Erechtheion with another ancient myth that appeared in Athens long before “Roman times”.

An ancient myth says that the temple was named after the king of Athens, Erichthonius, who was not a man. He was the fruit of the love of the “hardworking” god Hephaestus and Gaia. The gods, as is known from ancient Greek myths, “had no time for raising children.” Therefore, Athena (!) gave the baby, locked in a casket (!), to the three daughters of Cecrops and, at the same time, forbade them to look inside. How the child was supposed to grow in the casket remains a mystery, but the two girls could not stand it and, nevertheless, opened the lock. They saw inside the casket handed over by Athena, a charming baby from whom divine light emanated, and his peace was guarded by two snakes. From the sight that opened, the two sisters lost their minds and, running to the edge of the rock of the Acropolis, rushed down. Erichthonius quickly grew up and began to rule ancient Athens. This myth provides the most reliable explanation for the origin of the name of the temple. In addition, in the temple itself there was once the grave of the king, and in its western part, very close to the altar of the god of the sea element Poseidon, there was a small sanctuary of the ruler of the city.

View of the southern facade of the temple

Construction of the Erechtheion Temple

There are documents that clearly define the time period during which the Erechtheion Temple was built. Its construction began almost immediately after the death of the great Pericles in 421 BC. The magnificent building on the Acropolis was completely completed by 406 BC. As we know from ancient history, it was then that the so-called period of decline of the once powerful and influential Athens began.

As mentioned above, the Temple of the Erechtheion was built on the site where in ancient times Poseidon and the beautiful Athena argued with each other. In the rebuilt temple there was an altar of the lord of the water element; there are descriptions according to which one can conclude: on one of the internal walls there was a giant crack left by the trident of Poseidon, and in addition, in the Erechtheion the priests could see a well with sea water. This well was built on the spot where a salty spring came out of the ground, which Poseidon showed to the Athenians. Right in front of the temple grew an olive tree, the same one with which Pallas Athena surprised King Cecrops and the Athenians. According to legend, even before the construction of the temple began, the tree was burned in 480 BC, but it miraculously reappeared and decorated the entrance to the Temple.

View of the portico of the caryatid

It is also interesting that the architect, whose name is unknown, developed the plan for the Temple of the Erechtheion, built in the Ionic style, in such a way that the place where Poseidon struck with his trident was in the open air. According to myth, the gods forbade covering this place.

It is worth noting that the unknown architect and numerous builders involved in the construction of the Erechtheion Temple had to put in a lot of effort to ensure that the building was stable. The thing is that the temple is multi-level; this fact does not speak of the genius of the architect, but most likely is proof that the ancient Greeks did not have the technology to compare rocky terrain.

The Erechtheion Temple differed from many other temples not only in that only priests had access to it, but also in that it had two entrances. One of them led to the sanctuary of Athena, where her gigantic statue stood (according to eyewitnesses of that distant time, made of wood), and the second, to the sanctuaries of Erechtheus and Poseidon. It is also surprising that the Erechtheion was built on a “sacred” place. Before the work began, sanctuaries and other temples stood here, but over time they were destroyed or simply destroyed by robbers.

Caryatids

Architecture and history of the Erechtheion temple

The ancient temple, which opened for the Athenian priests back in 406 BC, stands on a foundation measuring 23.5 x 11.6 meters. Its popularity among tourists is due to the fact that each of its facades is unique in its own way. This is explained by the fact that more than one pagan god and more than one Athenian king were glorified in the temple. At the western facade of the Erechtheion Temple there is (more correctly, there was) the grave of King Kekropos, who was a snake man.

On the side of the western façade grew the very famous olive tree that Pallas Athena showed. Moreover, it is growing and at the moment, however, it no longer has divine origin: it was planted by restorers at the beginning of the 20th century.

Even today you can see the portico of the caryatids, known to any connoisseur of historical and architectural monuments. Without exception, all the guides leading their groups among the ruins of the ancient temple say that this particular portico is the most important attraction of the Erechtheion. Six sculptures of beautiful girls support the ceiling. Many modern sculptors say that the caryatids are made at such a high level that it seems as if at any moment a strong maiden, two meters and thirty centimeters tall, will step down from the plinth.

Coffered ceiling of the north portico

Alas, the girls’ hands were destroyed, but historians still managed to find out what they looked like in the distant past! A find in... Italy helped them with this. At Hadrian's Villa, we managed to find copies of strong maidens supporting the ceiling of the portico! It turns out that with one hand they supported their clothes, and in the other hand they held the so-called sacrificial jug - a vial. By the way, not all six caryatids are genuine; one of them is a “fake”, more precisely, a copy made by restorers. The original was stolen by an Englishman back in the 19th century, who came to Athens to profit from ancient relics.

The Erechtheion Temple is another confirmation of the genius of ancient Greek sculptors, who managed to create a truly fantastic ensemble of lace, statues and friezes from precious marble. Much of this ensemble has been irretrievably lost, but this does not make the Erechtheion lose its attractiveness and you can always meet a huge number of tourists near it. Like the Temple of Hephaestus, this building is considered one of the best preserved in Athens. By the way, it was preserved thanks to the Christians who made the Erechtheion their church, and the Turkish Khan, who decided to turn the ancient Greek temple... into a harem, where his beautiful wives and slaves lived in luxury.

North portico of the temple

There is information that in the very near future the third restoration of the Erechtheion Temple will be carried out (the first from 1837 to 1847; the second from 1902 to 1909). A tourist who goes to Greece to get acquainted with the most ancient monuments will not be amiss to know that entrance to them is paid. However, the ticket price is low, and children and teenagers can learn about the history of Ancient Greece, the ups and downs of Athens, completely free of charge.

Ancient Greece left to its descendants many ancient buildings and structures considered among the wonders of the world. One of those that is not included in the list of wonders of the ancient world is one built on the territory of the Acropolis of Athens.

Erechtheion Temple in Athens: history of creation

The ancient temple was built in 421-406 BC on the territory of the acropolis. History has not preserved the name of the architect.
But the ingenuity preserved the name of the creator.

Typically, the Athenians dedicated a new temple to a specific god. Was no exception. It was dedicated to three personalities highly revered in Athens: the goddess Pallas Athena, the patroness of the city, the ruler of the seas Poseidon and the king of Athens Erechtheus. It was in honor of the fact that the last one found peace within its walls that the sanctuary received its name. Moreover, the eastern part of the temple was dedicated to Athena, and the western part to the rest.

According to legend, it was erected on the site of disputes between Poseidon and Pallas Athena for the right to own the city and be its deity. In addition, many of the city’s shrines were kept here:

• idol of Athena made of wood;
• statue of Hermes;
• a golden lamp that burned continuously, although oil was added only once a year.

In the temple itself there was a source of salt water, created by Poseidon, and an olive tree grew nearby - a symbol of the city, which Pallas Athena herself gave it. Thanks to this, the Erechtheion takes 2nd place among the most important religious buildings in Hellas (after the Parthenon).

Next to the temple on the territory of the acropolis there were other significant buildings for the city: the Temple of Nike Apteros, the Theater of Dionysus and others.

Erechtheion - Athens Acropolis

Unlike the Parthenon, only priests had access here. Here they made their sacrifices and performed rituals. Here gifts were presented to the gods to whom it is dedicated and to Erechtheus.

After the advent of Christianity, a Christian temple was built in its place.

In the 17th century, the temple suffered serious damage caused by the Venetians, who fought with the local population. Then the building was restored a little, but it did not come to complete restoration. In addition, the looters did their best and stole many valuable items from there. Over the past centuries, 2 restorations of the temple were carried out: in 1837-47 and 1902-09.

The Erechtheion is a temple on, an outstanding work that is rightfully considered the pearl of ancient Greek architecture and one of the main temples of ancient Athens. Erected in 421 - 406. BC e. made of marble and dark limestone. The Erechtheion replaced a more ancient temple that stood on this site and was destroyed during. This is a completely unique monument that has no analogues in ancient Greek architecture.

Story

The Erechtheion Temple is the second most important monument of the Acropolis. In ancient times, it was the central temple dedicated to the cult of the goddess Athena. And if the Parthenon had the role of a public temple, then the Erechtheion, rather, was a priestly temple. The main religious sacraments associated with the worship of this goddess were held there, and the ancient statue of Athena was kept there. This relatively small temple combines a number of different sanctuaries. Most of which existed on this site long before the construction of the Erechtheion.

The temple was built on the site of the legendary dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Athens. In one of the halls of the Erechtheion there is a mark left by Poseidon's trident on a rock during his dispute with Athena. Nearby is the entrance to the cave located under the temple, where the sacred snake of the goddess Athena lived, which was considered the personification of the legendary Athenian king, hero and patron of the city - Erechtheus. Tradition associates the name of the temple with his name.

The Erechtheion was originally called the temple of Athena Polyada (the patroness of Athens), or the temple “guarding the ancient statue.” Only in Roman times did the name of one of its parts, the Erechtheion, spread to the entire building.

Construction of the Erechtheion

The construction of the Erechtheion is associated with the beginning of the most ambitious construction on the Acropolis, conceived and carried out during the time of Pericles. It was necessary to build a temple for the ancient statue of Athena - the main city shrine, according to legend, which fell from the sky. This statue was kept for a long time in an ancient temple located in the center of the Acropolis. When the Persian army invaded Attica and captured Athens, the temple of Athena was burned, but the Greeks prudently took the shrine to the island of Salamis. In 421 BC. e. Construction of the Erechtheion began. Work continued intermittently until 406. Soon after its completion, the temple was damaged by fire and restored in 394.

Description of the Erechtheion

Portico of the Caryatids

The layout of the building is based on a rectangle measuring 23.5 -11.6 m. The facades of the temple are unusually diverse; on each side the Erechtheion appears in a completely new way. In the western corner is the Kekropion, the tomb and sanctuary of the legendary Kekropos, the first king of Attica. Above it rises the world-famous portico of the caryatids - the main attraction of the Erechtheion.

On a high (2.6 m) plinth there are 6 statues of girls that support the ceiling of the portico. Their figures are 2.3 m tall. The left and right caryatids are mirror images of each other. The statues are crafted with consummate skill, they are natural and full of life. Their hands were not preserved, and until relatively recently it was not known exactly what the composition might have looked like in its original version. 1952 - in Italy, in the ruins of the villa of Emperor Hadrian, archaeologists discovered stone figurines - copies of the caryatids of the Erechtheion. Thanks to this find, it became clear that with their left hand they lightly held the edge of their clothing, and in their right hand they held a vial - a vessel for libations during sacrifice.

Presumably, the prototypes of the caryatids of the Erechtheion were the arrephors - servants of the cult of Athena, who were chosen from the best families of Athens. Their duties included making the sacred peplos, which was used every year to decorate the ancient statue of Athena, kept in the Erechtheion.

Time has not been kind to the portico of the caryatids, as well as the entire ensemble of the Acropolis in Athens. One of the statues was broken out and taken to England by the famous “connoisseur of antiquities” Lord Elgin at the beginning of the 19th century. It has now been replaced by a copy. But even in our time, with lost hands and damaged faces, the caryatids of the Erechtheion retain their charm and are the best examples of ancient Greek sculptural art.

What did the temple look like?

A staircase of 14 steps leads from the eastern portico of the Erechtheion to a small courtyard below, which closes the six-columned northern portico of the Erechtheion. This portico once served as the main entrance to the western half of the temple. Its columns are 7.6 m high. Four of them are located on the facade, two on the sides of the portico.

In front of the western facade of the Erechtheion on the western side, from time immemorial, the sacred olive tree of the goddess Athena grew. Therefore, the western facade of the Erechtheion looks very unusual for an ancient Greek temple - it was impossible to build the same entrance portico as on the eastern side, and then the 4 columns forming the western portico were raised to a base about 4 meters high, and the gaps between the columns were blocked bronze lattice. A silver-green olive tree grows against a background of marble columns. The current one was planted in the 20s of the 20th century in the same place where, according to the description of ancient authors, a sacred tree grew, which grew from the blow of Athena’s spear.

The Erechtheion stands out among other temples of ancient Greece for its unique sculptural decoration. Real marble lace frames the door portals and runs in a continuous ribbon along the top of the walls and porticoes of the temple. The skill of ancient sculptors captivates with the perfection and refinement of forms. Once upon a time, the facade of the Erechtheion ended with a relief frieze that stretched along the perimeter of the entire building. It depicted various episodes from the myths about Erechtheus and other Athenian heroes. Made from white marble, the figures were made separately and then attached to a background of bluish-black limestone. This peculiar technique created a rather impressive effect, and to enhance it, the details of the sculptures were covered with gilding. The capitals of the columns were also covered with gilding and painting. Fragments of this amazing frieze that have survived to this day are kept in the Acropolis Museum.

We know about the interior of the temple only from the writings of ancient authors. A blank wall divided the interior into two almost equal parts. In the east was the sanctuary of Athena Polyada. It was possible to enter this room by passing through a light six-column portico, the height of the columns of which reached 6.5 meters. Now only 5 columns have survived.

Destruction of the temple. Restoration

Like other structures of the Acropolis in Athens, the Erechtheion was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In Byzantine times, a Christian church was built in it. After the conquest of the city by the Turks, the Erechtheion was turned into the harem of the Turkish ruler of Athens.

The first restoration of the temple was done immediately after Greece gained independence, in 1837–1847. The temple was restored again in 1902–1909. The portico of the caryatids, the northern and southern walls, and the western facade of the temple were restored.

On the northern side of the Acropolis, near the Parthenon, is the ancient Greek temple of Erechtheion. This outstanding monument is rightfully considered a pearl of ancient Greek architecture and one of the main temples of ancient Athens. It was built in 421-406 BC. and is dedicated to a whole galaxy of gods.

According to legend, the temple was built on the site of a dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Attica. The Erechtheion replaced an older temple that was located on this site but was destroyed during the Greco-Persian War. The construction was initiated by Pericles, although it was completed after his death. Perhaps the architect was the architect Mnesicles, but this fact has not been reliably confirmed.

The Erechtheion has no analogues in ancient Greek architecture. Made in the Ionic style, it has an asymmetrical layout not only due to the unevenness of the ground on which it is built, but also the variety of sanctuaries connected to it. The temple had two main entrances - from the north and east, they were decorated with Ionic porticoes. The eastern part of the Erechtheion was dedicated to the goddess Athena, and the western part to Poseidon and King Erechtheus.

On the south side there is the famous portico Pandroseion, named after the daughter of King Kekrop Pandrosa. The architrave is supported by six marble statues of girls (caryatids) - this is the main attraction of the Erechtheion. Today they have all been replaced with copies, but the originals are in museums. One of the caryatids is kept in the British Museum, and the rest are in the Acropolis Museum.

The entire structure was surrounded by a frieze with overhead figures, but it has not survived to this day. The found debris is kept in the Acropolis Museum.

In ancient times, a salt spring flowed in the temple, which, according to legend, Poseidon carved out of the rock with his trident, and in the open courtyard grew a sacred olive tree, donated to the city by Athena. The temple once housed a wooden statue of Athena, which, according to legend, fell from the sky. The statue was made of sacred olive wood. The Erechtheion also housed a golden lamp by Callimachus and a statue of Hermes. The altars of the god of crafts Hephaestus and the hero But were also located here.

The temple received its name in honor of the Athenian king Erechtheus. His grave was located under the northern portico. And at the western facade of the temple you can still see the tomb of the first king of Attica, Cecrops.

Almost nothing is known for certain about the interior decoration of the temple, but it can be assumed that it was impressive in its grandeur.

The temple underwent great changes in the 7th century, when it was converted into a Christian church. During the Ottoman Empire, the temple was used as the harem of the Turkish Sultan. The first serious restoration of the temple was carried out after Greece gained independence. Today, the Erechtheion is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Acropolis of Athens.

Greece is not only an amazingly beautiful country, whose residents are warmed by the warm, gentle sun all year round, but also the cradle of an ancient ancient civilization. It is the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, the Greek gods and many classical genres of art.

In fact, this is where Western civilization was born, thousands of years before the advent of Christianity.

But the most striking attraction of the city is the Acropolis, rising in the heart of Greece - Athens.

Among all the buildings of the Acropolis, the Eirechtheon deserves special attention. It is considered one of the strangest antique buildings ever erected. More details about it below, but for now let’s talk briefly about the Acropolis.

There were acropolises in all ancient cities. This was the name of a high fortified point, decorated with temples erected in honor of the Greek gods.

But it was the Athenian Acropolis that, since ancient times, has been considered a classic example of an urban fortress in the Hellenic world.

The entire complex of Acropolis structures is located on a rock with a flat top, 156 meters high. People first settled here about 6 thousand years ago. In the 13th century BC e.

The Acropolis was fortified with thick stone walls, the creation of which, according to ancient Greek legends, is attributed to supernatural creatures called the Cyclops.

At first, the ruler lived on the top of the rock and a number of government institutions were located. In 480 BC. The Acropolis was destroyed by the Persians. And after the victory over them, the Greeks, under the leadership of the greatest ruler of that time, Pericles, began its restoration. All the temples and statues were rebuilt, surpassing the previous ones in majesty and perfection.

It was from this moment that the Acropolis acquired an exclusively cult function. With the development of Christianity, the appearance of the complex underwent changes, but overall did not lose its original appearance.

Eirechtheon

Even today, the Acropolis represents the wisdom of the ancients, which was embodied in stone. The main buildings of the Acropolis are: the temple of the goddess Athena, the Temple of the goddess Nike and the palace in honor of Athena and Poseidon (Eirechtheon). The latter deserves special attention due to its versatility and unusual design.

The Erechtheion is considered one of the strangest ancient buildings ever erected. The architect of this building is still unknown.

It is with the Erechtheion that the legend about the famous dispute between the goddess of war and victory, Athena, and the god of the seas, Poseidon, is connected.

According to legend, they argued about who would be the patron of the new city - Athens, created by the mythical creature - Kekropos (who was the progenitor of all the inhabitants of Attica). It is believed that he is buried at the foot of the temple.

Athena won this dispute. It was she who gave the new city a gift - an olive tree, which to this day is a symbol of the city. Poseidon gave Athens a spring, the water of which turned out to be salty and undrinkable.

Kekrop, according to legend, had an adopted grandson, Erechtheus, who was given in a box to his daughters. They were told not to open the box. But curiosity won. A divine baby appeared before their gaze, guarded by two divine snakes.

The girls went crazy from what they saw and rushed down the cliff. It is in honor of Erechtheus that this unusual temple is named.

In fact, the entire temple is dedicated to legends about the divine origin of Athens and the choice of its patron.

The temple amazes with its splendor and unusual construction. It was built on two levels of rock and for this reason the building is completely asymmetrical.

Another uniqueness of the building lies in its four facades, unlike each other, each of which has its own separate purpose. It is from the Erechtheion that many ideas of European architecture are taken. Even more than from the Parthenon. The main value for Europeans was the asymmetry of the building.

The Erechtheion was not built all at once, but in the period from 421 to 406 BC. Such a long period of construction is associated with the Greco-Persian War. The building has two entrances, which are decorated with giant portals of doors from Greek times. Accordingly, each input has its own function.

North side of the Erechtheion

On the north side is the temple of Athena Polyada (Athena the City Ruler). Inside this part of the building was kept a wooden statue of the goddess Athena, carved from the sacred olive tree.

The ancient Hellenes believed that the gods themselves made the statue for them, so during pagan holidays it was dressed in a sacred mantle (peplos), made by the priestesses of the temple. The most important mysterious rites dedicated to the patroness of the city were also held here.

West side of the Erechtheion

On the west side there is another entrance to the building. It is represented by semi-columns that do not extend from the ground itself.

And if in the Parthenon the columns really support the roof, here they have a purely decorative function. Thanks to them, throughout the entire building, if you observe it ten meters away, there is a very strange, but at the same time fascinating difference in levels.

It is here that the legendary imprint of the trident of Poseidon, who extracted a source of water for Athens, is located, and the imprint of the lightning strike of Zeus, who resolved the dispute between the gods.

In the inner part of the temple, next to the altar of Poseidon, there was a sanctuary of Erechtheus. And a little further away are the altars of Hephaestus and Buta. Booth was the god of crafts and the brother of Erechtheus. Hephaestus was the patron of blacksmithing.

South side of the Erechtheion

The southern side of the Erechtheion has an interesting solution, which is a blank wall with a small side portico.

Instead of traditional columns, the roof of the portico is supported by female figures. If you look closely, you will notice that the left and right caryatids (these statues received this name already in Byzantine times in honor of the unusually beautiful women of the city of Caria) are a mirror image of each other.

The statues are simply a masterpiece of architectural art. It seems that the girls are ready to step off their pedestal, they are so vividly and realistically executed.

The hands of the caryatids have not been preserved. And until the middle of the 19th century, scientists did not know what the complete original appearance of these magnificent maidens looked like.

But in 1852, miniature copies of them were found in England, thanks to which it turned out that in one hand there was a vessel for sacrifice, and with the other the girls were holding the hem of their clothes.

Scientists suggest that the prototypes of the caryatids were the priestesses of the temple of the goddess Athena. The faces of the virgins are turned towards the road along which religious processions dedicated to the patroness of the city took place.

East side of the Erechtheion

The eastern side is also very unusual in its design.

On the eastern side, the temple is decorated with long thin columns with light decorative belts in the upper part, characteristic only of the Erechtheion. They create a striking contrast with the columns of the nearby Parthenon, which are much lower and more massive.

Therefore, we have a completely different sense of grace when visiting the Erechtheion.

The medieval veil of secrecy is revealed - this magnificent palace complex in Vienna is rightfully included in the top ten places where you want to return again and again.

Unfortunately, the interior decoration of the Erechtheion has not survived to this day, since in the 7th century they tried to transform it into a Christian temple, and therefore most of the pagan structures were destroyed or taken away.

Thus, this small structure united several sanctuaries dedicated to the ancient ancient gods and heroes of the Greek epic.

Useful information for tourists

All buildings of the Acropolis, including the Erechtheion, have magnificent evening lighting. Therefore, if you visit this attraction in the evening, you will have a great opportunity to take very impressive photos.

Today, some of the elements of the Erechtheion, including the caryatids, have been replaced by copies. You can see the originals in the Acropolis Museum.

How to get to the Erechtheion

The easiest way to get to the Acropolis is by metro. This can be done from almost any part of the city. The station is located on the red line and bears the same name. To make it easier to navigate, keep in mind that this is the next station after Syntagma.

If you have enough time and are in the center of Athens, take a walk. If you go straight and don’t turn anywhere along the large pedestrian street called Dionysiou Areopagitou, you will inevitably come straight to the Acropolis.

Opening hours and prices

The entrance fee to the Acropolis is 12 euros. Visiting hours depend on the time of year and day of the week:

• Summer period: from 8.00 to 19.30. On Monday from 11.00 to 19.30.
• Winter period: from 8.00 to 15.30. seven days a week.