The head supports a capital, consisting first of a pad or cushion
[Greek: tylê], such as was, and still is, used to support weights.
(Compare the east frieze of the Parthenon, Nos. 30, 31.) From this the
transition to the square abacus is effected by an egg and tongue and a
bead and reel moulding.
This statue is admirably designed, both in composition and drapery,
to fulfil its office as a part of an architectural design. While the
massiveness of the draped figure suggests the idea that the support
for the superimposed architecture is not structurally inadequate,
the lightness and grace of the pose suggest that the maiden bears her
burden with ease.
The original position of the figure is marked A on the plan. Four
figures and part of a fifth still remain on the Acropolis. They are
uniform in their general design, but differ slightly in pose and
arrangement of drapery.
Pentelic marble; height, 7 feet 7 inches. Stuart, II., ch. II.,
pl. 19. _Mus. Marbles_, IX., pl. 6. Rayet, _Monuments_, No. 40;
Mitchell, _Selections_, pl. 7; Murray, II., pl. 17; Wolters, No.
810; _Stereoscopic_, No. 115.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE ERECHTHEION.
[Sidenote: =408.=]
Ionic column from the north end of the eastern portico of the
Erechtheion (B on plan). This being a column from an angle of the
building, the volutes occur on two adjacent sides, so as to present
themselves both to the east and north view.
Height, 21 feet 7-1/2 inches. _Synopsis_, Nos. 125-7, 110; Stuart,
II, ch. II., pls. 4, 5, 6.
[Sidenote: =409.=]
Capital of one of the pilasters (_antae_) and part of necking or
wall-band from the east wall of the Erechtheion (C, C, C on plan). It
is to be observed that the frieze on the pilaster, though analogous
to that on the walls, differs from it in details which heighten the
richness of the effect, and which assimilate the pilaster to the
columns of the east portico, while the walls resemble the capitals of
the north portico. Moreover, on the pilaster the carving of the frieze
is raised above the surface of the courses, while on the wall it is
set back from the wall face.
The slab on the right must be from the north-east angle of the
Erechtheion. The three slabs next to it might belong to the east,
north, or south sides, as regards the form and design. But the
excellent preservation of the surface, as compared with that of the
unprotected north-east angle, seems to show that these slabs are
derived from the east wall, where they were protected by the portico.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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