A CARYATID IS A SCULPTED FEMALE FIGURE SERVING AS AN ARCHITECTURAL SUPPORT TAKING THE PLACE OF A COLUMN OR A PILLAR SUPPORTING AN ENTABLATURE ON HER HEAD. THE GREEK TERM KARYATIDES LITERALLY MEANS “MAIDENS OF KARYAI”, AN ANCIENT TOWN OF PELOPONNESE. KARYAI HAD A FAMOUS TEMPLE DEDICATED TO THE GODDESS ARTEMIS IN HER ASPECT OF ARTEMIS KARYATIS: “AS KARYATIS SHE REJOICED IN THE DANCES OF THE NUT-TREE VILLAGE OF KARYAI, THOSE KARYATIDES, WHO IN THEIR ECSTATIC ROUND-DANCE CARRIED ON THEIR HEADS BASKETS OF LIVE REEDS, AS IF THEY WERE DANCING PLANTS.” (KERENYI 1980 P 149)
SOME OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF CARYATIDS WERE FOUND IN THE TREASURIES OF DELPHI, DATING TO ABOUT THE 6TH CENTURY BC, BUT THEIR USE AS SUPPORTS IN THE FORM OF WOMEN CAN BE TRACED BACK EVEN EARLIER, TO RITUAL BASINS, IVORY MIRROR HANDLES FROM PHOENICIA, AND DRAPED FIGURES FROM ARCHAIC GREECE. THE BEST-KNOWN AND MOST-COPIED EXAMPLES ARE THOSE OF THE SIX FIGURES OF THE CARYATID PORCH OF THE ERECHTHEION IN ATHENS. (PHOTO SHOWN ABOVE.)