Plate 33. The Northern Portico of the Temple of Minerva Polias at Athens

When one steps through the Propylæ on the Acropolis at Athens he has towards the east, on the right hand, the Parthenon, on the left the Erectheum. The latter was erected of Pentelic marble, on the site of an older Temple destroyed by the Persians. The newer structure, belonging to the Periclean times, seems to have been partly built during the Peloponnesian war and finished in the year 407 B. C. This new Erectheum, the remains of which still exist, was built as a double or more correctly three-chambered Temple of the form Prostyle, on ground and foundations of different levels. A six-columned portico facing the east lead as a pronaos into the cella of Athena Polias. On the north was a portico 10 ft. lower, with four columns on the northern front and two with antæ on the two sides. This portico lead into a high narrow vestibule on the west side of the building, opening into the central chamber, and was dedicated to Poseidon Erectheus. A second door lead from the above portico to the Temple court yard at the west side of the building, where was found the olive tree of Athena. A third doorway lead by means of a small stairway to the southern portico, which was at the same level as the plateau, and the roof of which was supported by six caryatides.

Plate 33 shows the column, entablature, and antæ of the northern portico. (It will be noticed that the projection of the entablature from the column axis is given 4[…] parts too much, an error in Stuart & Revett's work). The 9[…] diameters high column has an attic base on a common plinth. The upper ending of the fillets, between the 24 flutes, is here as an only occurrence of its kind, finished with a bead, which continues a short distance down the vertical. The flower band or anthemion belonging to the wall, as well as to the antæ, is placed on the neck of the column, and thereby harmony is effected.

The ornamentation on the entablature and that on the capitals and bases is of the finest sculpture, while on earlier monuments we find it carried out mostly in painting. Of the richest type is the capital of the column, with its strong double volutes; its plaited torus, the earliest example known; the encircling enriched echinus, and the profusely decorated neck. In the side view of the capital the double ring volutes are connected by a roll or bolster enwrapped with eight strings of pearl beading, which appear to hold it in place. The channels of the volutes showed colors of blue and on the fillets of the same were traces of red. Holes at different places indicate a bronze decoration. The capital of the antæ is also the Attic Ionic which we have already noticed at Ilissus, only that instead of painted flower mouldings we here have them carved.

The architrave of three facias is separated from the frieze by a small leaf-moulding and Doric cymatium. The frieze plates consist of bluish gray Eleusinian marble, which forms the background for relief figures of white marble. A simple corona supports the cyma, the latter being no more in existence but is restored in our plate. A more pleasing restoration is shown on Plate 30. The roof over this portico consisted of five stone beams which rested on the architrave of the portico and the rear wall and had six spaces between. On these beams rested the ceiling. The pediment forms an angle of about 150°.