The Porch of the Caryatids

The Porch of the Caryatids is one of the most famous architectural details on the Acropolis of Athens and one of the most recognizable images of classical Greece after the Parthenon itself. It forms the southern porch of the Erechtheion, where six sculpted female figures — the Caryatids or Korai — support the roof in place of conventional columns.

The Official Athens Guide notes that the Erechtheion, built around 420 BC, is known especially for the row of Caryatids on its southern porch. The official Acropolis Museum collection pages add important detail: the Caryatids are marble figures from Penteli, and the original statues once supported the roof of the south porch of the Erechtheion rather than serving as independent sculptures. That is what makes the porch so memorable — it blends architecture, sculpture, and symbolism into one of the Acropolis’ most distinctive forms.

Why the porch matters

The Caryatids are one of the clearest examples of how classical Athens fused artistic refinement with architectural invention. The official Acropolis Museum pages explain that the figures stood on a low base and carried the roof load through the “basket” forms on their heads, while their drapery echoes the fluting of columns. In other words, these are not statues added to a building later — they are the structure.

What to expect today

The porch is best understood as part of the wider Erechtheion and Acropolis visit rather than as a standalone stop. The current figures on the monument are replicas. According to the official Acropolis Museum, the original Caryatids were removed from the monument in 1979 for protection, replaced on the Erechtheion by copies, and since 2009 the originals have been displayed in the Acropolis Museum. The museum also notes that five of the Caryatids are in Greece, while the sixth remains in the British Museum in London after being detached in 1804.

Practical information

The Porch of the Caryatids is visited as part of the Acropolis archaeological site, so the same official Acropolis ticketing and hours apply. The current official Ministry of Culture page for the Acropolis and its slopes lists €30 full admission and €15 reduced admission, with seasonal hours of winter 08:00-17:00 with last entrance at 16:30 and summer 08:00-20:00 with last entrance at 19:30. The Official Athens Guide lists the address as Acropolis, Athens 105 58 and the site phone as +30 210 321 4172.

Local tip: See the porch on the Acropolis, but make time for the Acropolis Museum afterward. The combination is what makes the Caryatids fully understandable — replicas in place, originals preserved and displayed with proper context below.