A Hairstyle Set in Stone

[[Caryatid]]

In the British Museum, nestled amongst other treasures of the world, stands a lone column. Yet there is something distinctly odd about this one - it's shaped like a young woman.

This is one of the famous caryatids from the Erechtheum temple on the Athenian Acropolis, which was built during the 5th century BC.

Columns in Ancient Greece typically had 'fluting' - the lines down the column. Here, they are replaced by the folds of her drapery. Similarly, the tops of the columns, 'capitals' take the form of an ornamental basket-style design on the maiden's head.

This photo is taken from the back, so that you can see a detail often unnoticed: each of the caryatids is slightly personalised, even in terms of their hairstyle.

The maiden in the British Museum has waving hair, gently pulled back. Her hair is thick, not only for reasons of aesthetics, but because the extra bulk would have helped stabilise the weight of the roof.

She is a marvel of both engineering and fashion, creating a surreal effect - standing at the Erechtheum century after century, supporting a work of art whilst being one herself.