a temple of the Ionic order in Athens, dating from the end of the fifth century B.C. It contained a shrine to Athene, two to Erechtheus (whence the name), the salt spring of Poseidon, the sacred olive of Athene and other sacred memorials. The building is square, with porticoes on three sides. The east portico extends across the front and is adorned with six Ionic columns. On the south side at the west end is the famous Porch of the Caryatides, whose rich entablature rests on the heads of six female figures a little larger than life, ranking as the finest of architectural sculpture. The frieze was decorated with white marble reliefs, only fragments of which remain to-day.