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The Erechtheion
Revision questions on the Erechtheion for NCEA Level 2 Classics
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What was used to support the Caryatid porch? | Korai instead of columns. Korai are maidens, also called Karyatids (Caryatids). |
| What is the reason for the Caryatid Porch? | It was set to balance the northern portico. |
| Why was the Erechtheion placed on a difficult site? | The site sloped. It was placed here because of other buildings at the time it was built. It had to be incorporated around the other shrines and alters in the area that could not be moved. |
| Describe the shape of the Erechtheion. | A result of the difficult nature of the site. It has four levels and three structural units (the west facade was built on two levels) each with it's own roof. It has four columnar supports. It is like three buildings pushed together. |
| Why was the Erechtheion built? | To house the famous and revered Xoanon after it's previous house in the Old Temple of Athena was destroyed. |
| What is the Xoanon? | An archaic statue of Athena Polias that was believed to have fallen to Earth during the reign of king Erechtheus. |
| Where did the Erechtheion get it's name? | It is thought to have gotten it's name from the legendary Athenian king Erechtheos. |
| How was the Erechtheion decorated? | With a Caryatid porch, a sculptured frieze, gilding, gilt bronze and glass beads. |
| When did construction of the Erechtheion take place? | Construction began in 421 BC and went until it was suspended in 414 BC. It was resumed in 409 to 406 BC. |
| Who was the architect? How was Pericles involved? | The architect is unknown but thought to be Mnesicles. Pericles was not involved, the Erechtheion is the only of the four main structures (that we are studying) to not be built under Pericles or according to his orders. |
| What materials were used to build the Erechtheion? | Pentalic marble, terracotta, wood and Eleusinian limestone. Same as the Parthenon and the Propylaia. |
| What style is the Erechtheion? What shape and dimensions is it? | It is Ionic. It is an irregular polygon with irregular dimensions. |
| What are some of the criticisms of the Erechtheion? | It showed that the Greek architects had trouble working outside of conventional forms if they had to build something original and more complex. Some people struggled to see it as a complete structure instead of a series or separate buildings/boxes. |
| What do we know about the ceilings in the Erechtheion and how do we know this? | Inscriptions tell us that the porches had coffered marble ceilings and the cellae had wooden ones. |
| Describe the columns. | Ionic and highly decorated with gilding and glass beads. They had elaborate capitals and bases. |
| What was the frieze made from? | Pentalic marble. It was attached to the limestone entablature. |
| What do the Karyatids support? | An architrave decorated with rosettes, a dentil frieze and a flat roof. Note: A dentil frieze is made up of small square blocks. |
| What was located beneath the Caryatid porch? Where was the Caryatid porch located? | A shrine to king Cecrops, the first king of Athens. It was located on the south of the temple. |
| Which two gods were said to have participated in a contest here? What remnants of this battle are still there? How was Kekrops involved? | Athena and Poseidon. Athena's sacred olive tree is outside and this is said to have sprung from a stone during the battle. The marks of Poseidon's trident and the spring that resulted from the contest are also present in the temple. Kekrops judged. |
| Why was the temple built in a difficult place? | It could not be built where the old one was because it's alter still stood along with the opisthodomos and the near proximity to the Parthenon. It was built further north instead. |
| What problems did the site pose? | It sloped to the north and west. The other sacred shrines in the area limited space and meant that vast terraces were impossible. These shrines had to be included in the temple area somehow. |
| What shrines were included in the Erechtheion? | Athena's sacred olive tree, marks of Poseidon's trident and his spring (well or cistern), the tomb of king Kekrops (mythical first king of Athens), the sanctuary of Pandrosos, and alters to the Attic heroes Boutes and to Hephaistos (fire and smith craft). |
| How did the temple allow for the slope of the site? | The two cellas were placed on different levels, east higher and lower in the west and north. This made the normal layout of the front and back porch on an east-west axis and surrounding colonnade impossible. The west porch was placed in the north. |
| Where were the porches on the temple? | The north, east and south. There was no west porch, instead a facade which sheltered the tomb of Kekrops. |
| Describe the east porch. | Higher than the other porches. It has corner pilasters for antae and six prostyle ionic columns. A wide doorway and two windows open into the east cella which held the cult statue of Athena Polias. On the outside steps led to a courtyard and north porch. |
| What does the North porch incorporate? | It incorporates a shrine with the exact spot Poseidon struck his trident in the competition with Athena. |
| Describe the North porch. | The main access to the west cella, through a large and elaborately decorated doorway (4.9m high by 2.4m wide). 4 Ionic columns 7.6m high along the north and one more each side between corner antae. |
| How do the columns in the north porch compare to those in the east porch? | They are bigger but still not able to bring the entablature to the same level because they are set on lower ground. |
| What is the reason for the hole in the roof of the north porch? | Presumably for safe passage if the blow from Poseidon't trident was repeated and the illuminate the trident mark and the sea/well of Poseidon. |
| What decoration was present in the cellas and north porch? | Friezes went around the cellas and north porch. |
| What was pegged onto the entablature? (cellas and north porch) | Separate white Pentalic marble figures were pegged onto a dark Eleusinian stone entablature which is not at the same level throughout. |
Created by:
Alyssa201