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Erechtheion
• The Erechtheion or Erechtheum, is an ancient
Greek temple on the north side of the
Acropolis of Athens in Greece which was
dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
• The temple as seen today was built between
421 and 406 BC. Its architect may have been
Mnesicles, and it derived its name from a
shrine dedicated to the legendary Greek hero
Erichthonius. The sculptor and mason of the
structure was Phidias, who was employed by
Pericles to build both the Erechtheum and the
Parthenon.
• On the north side, there is another large porch
with six Ionic columns, and on the south, the
famous "Porch of the Maidens", with six
draped female figures (caryatids) as
supporting columns.
• In 1801 one of the caryatids and the north
column of the east porch together with the
overlying section of the entablature were
removed by Lord Elgin in order to decorate his
Scottish mansion, and were later sold to the
British Museum.Athenian legend had it that at
night the remaining five Caryatids could be heard
wailing for their lost sister. Elgin attempted to
remove a second Caryatid; when technical
difficulties arose, he tried to have it sawn to
pieces.
•
•
Melina Mercouri was the first woman who asked him to return the Parthenon
marbles saying the following:
You need to understand what they mean for our marbles. It is our pride, are our
sacrifices. It is the essence of Hellenism.
We are prepared to say that we rule the entire act of Elgin as irrelevant at the
moment.
We say to the British Government.
Keep these sculptures for almost two centuries. Look after them as best we could,
for which we thank you. But now in the name of fairness and morality, please give
back.
I sincerely believe that such a gesture on the part of Great Britain will always honor
its name.
Thank you for your attention!
Theodoros Printezis Class B3
ENGLISH LESSON B
CLASS ADVANCED