A caryatid is a load-bearing column or support carved in the form of a female figure that carries an entablature in place of an ordinary column.
Characteristics
A caryatid combines sculpture and structure. Rather than a plain shaft, the support takes the shape of a standing woman, usually draped, who appears to bear the weight above on her head.
- The figure does the work of a column, transferring the load of the entablature downward.
- The head, often with a cushion or basket, takes the place of a capital.
- The male counterpart, a bearded male figure serving the same role, is called an atlas or telamon.
The most celebrated example is the porch of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis in Athens, where a row of caryatids carries the roof of the temple. Their poise makes a heavy structural task look graceful and effortless.
Application
Caryatids are used where architects want structure and sculpture to merge, giving a building both support and a strong artistic statement. They appear on temple porches, grand entrances, balconies and monumental facades. Beyond the classical world, they were revived in later periods whenever designers looked back to Greek and Roman models for inspiration.
Related terms
- Column
- Capital
- Atlas
- Pilaster
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