Dublin Core
Title
Erechtheion: Western and Southern Views (Athens, Greece)
Subject
Erechtheion (Athens, Greece)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Description
This photograph captures the western and southern sides of the Erectheion. Dedicated to the gods, Athena and Poseidon, and named after the legendary king of Athens, Erectheus, this temple commemorated the mythic battle for patronage of the city. According to myth, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim the city, so a contest was held to determine which of the two gods would be victorious. Each god had to give a gift to the people, and after careful considering, the people, themselves, would choose their own patron. Poseidon famously provided the people with a saltwater pool, while Athena gave the people what would become the basis of their commercial economy, the olive tree. Athena was chosen as the winner and the city named after her. It was supposedly on this spot where this contest took place, the tree depicted on the western side of the Erechtheion is believed by Athenians to be the descendant of the original olive tree given by their patron goddess. This temple is also famous for its porch of the Caryatids, a portico with maidens acting as the supporting columns. Although in existence since the Bronze Age, the individual buildings that originally constituted what became the Erectheion were consolidated and enlarged by the building program of Pericles. Construction on the renovated Erechteion began in 421 BCE and lasted until it was dedicated in 406 BCE. Contrary to popular belief, the Parthenon (just south of the Erectheion) was not the most important religious sanctuary in Athens; it was the Erechtheion.
Creator
Proctor, Christopher
Date
29-May-2007
Rights
Noncommercial Reuse: The author of this work gives permission for this digital image to be reused
without modification for research and educative endeavors. Please cite the digital resource according to the convention provided by Omeka.
without modification for research and educative endeavors. Please cite the digital resource according to the convention provided by Omeka.
Format
image/jpg
403 KB
1280 x 960 pixels
Language
English
Type
Still Image
Identifier
CG0015
Coverage
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.