1. Burpo 1
Autumn Burpo
7 October 2014
ARC 267
Why the Erechtheion
Citizens of Athens:
I am aware of the recent turmoil that took place between you all and the Persians. I’m
sure you all are still in awe of the current conditions of the Temple of Athena or better yet the
lack of the temple. I know how sacred the Temple of Athena was to Athens, and it is not my
intensions to turn your misfortune into my own personal gain, but to propose a solution. It is not
enough to simply replace the Old Temple with any common design. The goal I am aiming to
help you achieve is the reinvention of the Temple of Athena.
This new temple, that is to be called “The Erechtheion” in honor of Erechtheus the First,
should not completely overshadow the original temple. It instead should pay homage to it. The
remaining material of the Temple of Athena is not to be disturbed but preserved and displayed.,
The Erechtheion cannot be placed in the exact location of the Old Temple because the alter is
still standing. Instead it should be built north of where the Old Temple use to be so that the
Erechtheion and the Parthenon appear to be embracing the alter.
Though some may argue against the complexity of my design but I find that it has both
aesthetic value while still serving a worthy purpose. The shape of the plan may appear
unconventional or peculiar but it is necessary. Aside from the fact that it is one of the factors that
will set it apart from the Parthenon, this irregular plan is needed because the site in which it shall

2. Burpo 2
sit on is drastically uneven. This environmental factor makes the use of a single leveled
polygonal building impossible. Also, the separation of rooms in the interior is not that of the
typical temple. Instead of having one or two large spaces in the center enclosed by walls and / or
columns with some visual attraction in the center, I am taking my design in a different direction.
My design separates the interior or the temple into several rooms, three porches and more than
one level. The purpose of this style of division is to appropriately house the different rituals
shrines that would be stored in the Erechtheion. For example, the design of my building leaves
open space below the south porch which would be an appropriate place for a shrine. Also, the
West façade’s elevation opens space for another shrine or tomb.
I believe the ornate features of my design will do a great deal in honoring Goddess
Athena Polias who is the protector of Earth and fertility. The east end of the Erechtheion will be
dedicated to her with a wooden diipetes xoano in her honor. Seeing how the theme of fertility is
used in reference to women, the addition of the Maidens on the south porch does more than
please the eye. Also I plan to have a courtyard on the western side of the Erechtheion, and in that
courtyard there will be a sanctuary dedicated to Pandrosos, priestess of Athene. These three
elements will be an amazing way to exude the themes of fertility, femininity, and strength, all of
which Athena Polias portrays.
Because the previous temple was destroyed in the act of war, I feel that it is of the upmost
importance to erect a new structure demonstrating strength and perseverance. That is why the
foundation should be made from Terracotta because it is very durable. Because a sacred place
was reduced to ruin we must revive it and parade its beauty with tall ornate Ionic Columns with
Glass beads as well as elegant capitals and bases. This design will live up to and surpass the
precedent set by the Old Temple, all it requires is a site.

3. Burpo 3
Revised Bibliography
 Harris, Diane. The Treasures of the Parthenon and Erechtheion. Oxford: Clarendon Press;
New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
 Psarra, Sophia. Architecture and Narrative: The Formation of Space and Cultural
Meaning. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: New York, NY: Routledge, 2009.
 Wycherley, R.E. The Stones of Athens. Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press,
1978.
 http://www.studystack.com/flashcard-1096667
 http://www.metrum.org/key/athens/oldtemple.htm
 Lesk, Alexandra. "A Diachronic Examination of the Erechtheion and its Reception." PhD
diss., University of Cincinnati, 2005. http://www.erechtheion.org/index.php/erechtheion
 http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/erechtheion.html
 http://www.classics.upenn.edu/myth/php/tools/dictionary.php?regexp=PANDROSOS&m
ethod=standard