The Erechtheion that we see today and the early 'reconstructions' that were proposed
are wrong. Since the discovery and excavation of the Acropolis in the early 19th century,
proceeding generations of archaeologists. historians and artists have used current
thinking at that time to reconstruct antiquity.
It can come as a shock to find that the views beloved by tourists and us Hellenophiles today - was not
the view in 4th century Athens.
To understand why the view we admire was impossible to the Athenians is to take into account that the
old temple of Athena - destroyed by the Persians in the previous century was still very much a part
of what was visible to visitors to the Acropolis plateau.
Above: front view showing the position of the remains of the the old temple of Athena in relationship to the Erechtheion (Left) and Parthenon (right).
Most of this old temple had been destroyed - but the inner cella and some of the columns were partially
restored and roofed over. You had then to walk around the side to see the porch of the maidens. The view
from the North porch would have the partially rebuilt temple in the background obscuring the view
of the Parthenon. You can see this our in our reconstruction of the Erechtheion (above and below) with
the old temple that would have obscured the view of the Parthenon and maiden porch.
