Greece: Athens

A carved woman can also be part of a building’s support. The Caryatid in Room 19 came from the Erechtheion on the Acropolis in Athens, where female figures took the place of columns. Other sculpture here came from the Temple of Athena Nike. Together, the fragments let you compare different uses of carved figures within the sacred buildings of fifth-century Athens. A body might carry weight, fill a panel or appear within a continuing relief. The gallery also contains votive and grave reliefs. These connect sculpted images with gifts to the gods and the commemoration of the dead. Look at the gestures and clothing before considering the object’s original setting. Similar ways of carving a figure could serve different purposes in a temple, an offering or a grave monument.