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Caryatid is an architectural element that is popular in any style
Caryatid is the name of an architectural column that took the form of a female figure. The most famous example can be found on the southern porch of the Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis in Athens.
Ancient legends
In the Hellenistic culture, the "caryatid" is the virgin of Caria, the famous Peloponnese temple. Harius was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Like Caryatids, she rejoiced, dancing among the walnut trees in the city of Caria. At this time, the virgins in the enthusiastic dance were carrying baskets of freshly cut reeds on their heads. They represented the dance of plants.
The Roman architect Vitruvius assumed that the caryatid is a slave. Vitruvius saw how they are used in the form of columns in the Ionic architecture. But the caryatid itself is an evolving Persian column. True, the Persians used animals to support buildings.
Erechtheum
The six most famous caryatids support the roof of the false southern porch of the Erechtheion at the Athenian Acropolis. This building was built by Pericles, presumably between 421-406 BC. E. To accommodate the ancient wooden religious sculpture of Athena. He also served as the center of veneration of Erechtheus (the mythical king of Athens) and his brothers, including Poseidon.
Renaissance and after it
At this time, they began to be used in interiors during the construction of fireplaces. During the Baroque period, they appear in Scotland as a carved decoration over a fireplace in the large hall of the castle of Michels.
The Empire style did not ignore this decorative element. Imagination of the artist continued to occupy the idea of a beautiful woman who carries the sky.
In 1881, Auguste Rodin sculpted a caryatid figurine that had fallen from the stone. He was the only one who saw how hard it was for the girl to carry the burden, which still tried to get up.
Male caryatid double
He has two names: telamon and atlant. The first name, or rather the name, meant "support" or "support." It was the mythical son of Eak and the Aeneid. He was the king of Salamis. This strong man sat on the oars, when the Argonauts were going behind the fleece, he participated in the Calydon hunt for a wild boar, which did not give rest to the whole district, which Theusi defeated.
Atlant is a mighty Titan who holds the firmament on his shoulders. Is it possible for him to bear such a burden? No matter how hard it may be, courage and patience allow him to keep it. In Greek mythology, he was turned into stone or rock.
Twin Sculptures
Atlantis and caryatids decorate the facades of buildings, support balconies, performing an aesthetic function. Especially good are the atlantes supporting the portico of the New Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Initially, according to the architect L. Klenze, he had to be supported by caryatids. But this project was rejected, and eight years later, in 1848, AI Terebenev created ten sculptures of atlantes from the dark granite mined in the deposit on Lake Ladoga.
Architecture: building elements
The French word "entablature" means an overlap made of beams. It consists of architrave, frieze and eaves. In architecture, architrave has two meanings:
- A crossbeam that fits between columns or openings of windows, it is on top;
- The same crossbar, which is laid on the capitals of columns, decorated with various orders, that is, canonical drawings.
Modern use of caryatids
The Greeks were inspired by the creation of caryatids by the girls from Caria. Dressed in clothes, their sculptural images were supported by buildings. This tradition continues.
To this day, both Atlanteans and Caryatids are in demand in modern architecture. Eclectic, modern, neo-renaissance - they are possible everywhere. The framework of their style does not constrain. The idea of the artist who uses them does not close, but draws inspiration from a tradition that goes through the millennia.
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