The Erechtheion (Ἐρέχθειον), on the north side of the Acropolis opposite the Parthenon, is a complex sacred building which was dedicated to a number of deities, particularly Athena Polias, the city's guardian, the sea god Poseidon and Erechtheus, a mythical king of Athens. The Ionic temple was the last building of the Periclean programme on the Acropolis to be completed.

Construction is thought to have begun during the Peace of Nicias (421-415 BC), the treaty signed by Athens, Sparta and their respective allies during the Second Peloponnese War (431-404 BC). Work on the temple probably ceased when the war resumed and the Athenians faced a number of catastrophic defeats, but was completed around 410-406 BC (see building accounts below).

It is thought that the foundations to the south of the Erechtheion are those of the Archaic temple referred to by archaeologists as the "Old Temple" of Athena Polias, which, along with other buildings and sanctuaries on the Acropolis, was destroyed by the Persians in 480-479 BC. To the north of the Old Temple were spaces or buildings sacred to other deities and legendary or mythological figures connected with the traditional early history of Athens.

Although the Parthenon was the grandest and most famous building on the rock, the Erechtheion and the area around it were probably more important to Athenians in religious and cultural terms. The cult statue of Athena was kept in the building, and to its east stood the Great Altar, where rituals and sacrifices were performed during the Panathenaic Festival. Worshippers could see the olive tree planted by Athena and the spring created by Poseidon when the two Olympian gods competed for the patronage of the city, as well as the marks made by Poseidon's trident when he struck the ground in frustation at losing the contest. Here the faithful could see physical evidence of the dramatic ancient tales concerning Kekrops, Erichthonios, Herse, Aglauros, Pandrosos, Gaia and Athena (see below) which were set on this side of the Acropolis.

Why it was decided to bring so many cult elements under one roof and create a multi-functional building is not known. The reasons for the Erechtheion's unusual design and the name of its original architect also remain a mystery. Essentially it is a long rectangular building divided into two internal areas at the west and east. Two porches project from the north and south sides at the west end (see plan below). The south porch, the best-known feature of the building, is known as the "Caryatid Porch" or the "Hall of the Maidens".

The result is an odd T-shaped building, which appears even more complex because the ground on which the west side and the north porch stand is around 3 metres lower than the level of the east side and the Caryatid Porch. The building's long south wall also gives modern visitors the impression that it has turned its back on the Parthenon and the rest of the Acropolis.

Two marble steles inscribed with the building accounts of the Erechtheion for 408/407 BC.
The inscriptions refer to the commissioning of the building, the budgets for various parts
and the names and payments of sculptors, stonemasons and other artisans.

1. The "Melian" plaque depicting Athena, Gaia and Kekrops

See:

Paul Jacobsthal, Die melischen Reliefs, page 96 onwards, plate 75. Heinrich Keller, Berlin, 1931.

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