Dimitris Armanidis (graphic designer) and Giannis Logothetis (photographer) created a 5-minute video about the six beautiful ancient daughters of the Erechtheion.
Many interpretations have been given for the Caryatids. The most convincing one claims that they were the above-ground monument of the tomb of Cecrops and that they were the libation bearers (choephoroi), those who paid homage to the glorious dead. The main building and the northern side of the Erechtheion were surrounded by a continuous Ionian frieze decorated with figures of gods, heroes and mortals in scenes associated with the ancient cults of the Erechtheion. The figures were separately worked in Parian marble and adapted to slabs of gray Eleusinian stone.
The Caryatids are six 1.77m high maidens in a Pi-shaped layout and support the roof of the porch with their heads, through an architectural element that looks like a basket-shaped capital decorated with eggs.
At first these statues were simply called “Kores” (maidens). The name “Caryatids” was given much later. According to the Roman architect Vitruvius, they represented the women of the Laconian city of Karyes, which surrendered during the Persian wars and was punished with the murder of husbands and the captivity of the wives. Most likely, however, the Kores were identified with the Caryatid maidens, who in their homeland performed the famous dances in honor of the Caryatid Artemis.
The six maidens have one leg bent, the one towards the central axis (or more simply the three left maidens have their right leg bent, while the three right ones bend their left leg). They wear a Doric veil that forms folds between the breasts and as it rolls towards the legs.
Their hair is long, combed back and tied loosely. Their arms are missing. According to Roman copies in Tivoli, one hand held the edge of the garment and the other hand a bottle.
The Caryatids are exhibited in the New Acropolis Museum, except for the second maiden from the left, which was abducted by Lord Elgin and is now kept in the British Museum.
Watch the video below:
