Erechtheion, Ancient Greek temple on Acropolis, Athens, Greece
The Erechtheion is an Ionic temple of Pentelic marble on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens, built to house the ancient statue of Athena Polias. Its irregular plan steps down a slope, with a north portico of four fluted columns and, on the south, the Porch of the Maidens, where six sculpted women stand in place of columns above a field of scattered blocks.
Construction began in 421 BC during the Peloponnesian War and lasted about 15 years under architect Mnesikles. The structure replaced an older temple destroyed during the Persian invasion.
The name comes from Erechtheus, the mythical Attic king; the building held his tomb and also served Athena Polias, Poseidon and Zeus. Pausanias described it intact, including the marks of Poseidon's trident and the salt spring in the rock. The six figures of the south porch, carved by Alcamenes, stood over the tomb of Cecrops.
Access is included with the main Acropolis ticket, which covers all monuments on the hill. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the ground is uneven and can be slippery when wet.
The floor plan deviates from classical symmetry because the building was constructed on different ground levels and unites multiple sacred sites under one roof. The original caryatids are now in the Acropolis Museum, while copies stand on the temple.
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