Athens research | pickersgill-2

British Museum caryatid

St Pancras church

In the Church of St Pancras (Sanctus Pancratius) there are two sets of caryatids (North and South porches) They are modelled of terracotta constructed around cast iron columns.

The site is dedicated to the worship of one of the oldest saints - Pancras of Rome. His name is Greek in origin and literally means "the one that holds everything".

Pancras was a Roman citizen from a town on the Turkish peninsula who converted to Christianity and was beheaded for his faith at the age of 14 in or around the year 304 AD. A fate that seems remarkably similar to that of many middle eastern refugees currently washing up on Greek shores.

I was particularly interested in the title's relevance to contemporary politics - specifically to the undercurrent of powerful political elites. Athens inspired me to make a piece connected to the Greek debt crisis - a country being forced to cut spending by the EU, with considerable long term effects on the economy and the Greek people. By my caryatids hem is not an offering, but a begging bowl. My textile 'column' offers no support to the 'building'; being suspended approx. 500mm below the ceiling/roof.

The Erechtheion is one of the most recognizable and admired of the many monuments situated on the Acropolis in Athens. It is part of the complex which was not only a temple to Athena but was dedicated to other gods and heroes. It is the site of the symbolic sacred tokens of the olive tree (Athena) and the trident (Poseidon) myth. The erechtheion stands over what is believed to be the tomb of the mythical king Kekrops; allegedly the first king of Attika and also first to worship the goddess Athena.

The caryatid figures on the temple's South Porch are named from Karyatid - literally meaning maidens of Karyai, a town in Laconia, on the Pelleponese. According to texts in the Acropolis museum it is thought that these hand maidens would have been young women aged 9 upwards selected from well connected families. The female statue is always clothed - in traditional dress; comprising chiton, and peplos. The caryatid figures are all uniquely rendered, including their elaborately plaited hair. Their arms are broken but it is thought (from the evidence of Roman copies) that they would be holding offerings.

Caryatids are also known by the name choephorai and are the libation bearers for the offerings being made to the dead king. It is thought that the offerings would have included oils and possibly honey cakes. The worship of Athena represented the end of sacrifices as offerings to the God Poseidon.

The Erechtheion porch has six marble caryatids, all are replicas - five of the originals are displayed in the new Acropolis museum Athens. The sixth was taken to London by Lord Elgin and is in the British Museum along with many other of the marble statues from the frieze of the Parthenon.

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British Museum caryatid