A Caryatid is a female figure used in place of a column or an architectural support for a porch or entry way. The Greek term Karyatides means literally " maidens of Karyai".
Such figures were constructed between 421-407 BC.
These figures with intricately styled hair and draped clothing, are sometimes also called korai or maidens. Karyai, where often danced balancing a basket on their heads in honour of Artemis.
Today the Caryatid columns on the Erechtheion are replicas, One of originals is in British Museum in England and other five are housed in the Acropolis museum.
When seeing such structures it is truly amazing to see what people were able to create thousands of years ago without the aid of power tools or machinery. True art.
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