The Porch of Maidens in Athens, Greece

When you visit Athens, Greece, everybody thinks of the Acropolis. The Acropolis has a number of historical sites to see including the Parthenon, Nike temple, the Erechtheion and two theatres, a Roman theatre and a Greek theatre. This post is about the Erechtion.

Walking up to the Erechtheion is really something. This ancient building has lady columns supporting the roof. They are known as the Porch of the Maidens. The temple goes by another name, the Temple of Athena Polias. It is a Greek Ionic temple dedicated to the goddess of Athena.

Ironically, the maidens at the temple are not within reach. In other words, you cannot walk up to the maidens and touch them nor take a closeup picture of it like you can with the real ones in the Acropolis museum. The ones that are outside and at the temple are only casts.

The maidens are incredibly detailed. Each maiden is unique. In other words, each one is not a repeat of another. The braids on the back show a different pattern.

This is why they recommend you go to the Acropolis Museum to see the real maidens. Here, you can get up close to the maidens and see how they really look like. There is no rope or glass separating you from them but please, respect them and do not touch. They have lasted for so long, lets hope they last for another century. 

Seeing them up close in the museum is really precious. I am glad they are protected from the elements and in a humidity controlled room. I just wish the museum staff would keep an eye on them. We don't want vandals to pour paint on them or take a hammer to them like they did to the Statue of David in Rome.

And here we are at the Erechtheion. We have been here before but we don't ever grow tired of seeing them again.

If you haven't seen them, please make a trip to Athens and see them before they deteriorate any more.