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.
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 7½ inches. Synopsis, Nos. 125-7, 110; Stuart, II, ch. II., pls. 4, 5, 6.
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.
It is interesting to note the numerous repairs in the series of slabs. They probably date from the time of the construction of the building, and were meant to make good what was broken by accident in the course of construction. On the north side of the pilaster, seven inches of the bead and reel moulding immediately surmounting the anthemia have been skilfully inserted in a groove and fastened with lead. On the east side of the pilaster one of the beads of the lower bead and reel moulding was attached by a plug, of which the hole remains. On the next slab on the left one bead of the upper bead and reel moulding was similarly added. On the second slab from the left, one tongue of the egg and tongue moulding, one piece of spiral connecting the anthemia and one bead were let into the marble. Traces of red colour remain in the upper part of the frieze on this slab.—Elgin Coll.