What term is used to describe draped female figurines employed for structural support, instead of columns, and where is it claimed this term originated?

Baloo55th

Caryatid, from the priestesses of Artemis at Karuai in Laconia. Don't ask me why the priestesses of a village temple would give rise to the name of an architectural feature. Mar 01 05, 5:03 PM

peasypod

Nice One for the Carytid bit. I believe they first appeared in pairs, in three small buildings (treasuries) at Delphi (550-530 BC), and their origin can be traced back to mirror handles of nude figures carved from ivory in Phoenicia and draped figures cast from bronze in archaic Greece. According to a first century BC Roman architectural writer, the carytids represented the women of 'Caryae', who were doomed to hard labour because the town sided with the Persians in 480 BC during the second invasion of Greece. Baloo, can you name this 'writer'????? Mar 01 05, 5:11 PM

Baloo55th

Off the top of my head, Vitruvius? Mind you, I'm probably a bit off my head at the moment. Mixing my drinks. Started off on Frome Valley cider, could only find one bottle, so had some Snecklifter to follow. Mar 01 05, 5:26 PM

peasypod

Well done. Perhaps you could use your Golden Banana to stir your drinks rather than its traditional use.... Mar 01 05, 5:34 PM

lothruin

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, to be exact. His De architectura libri decem, or Ten Books on Architecture, is considered by many to be the first engineering handbook. Mar 01 05, 5:34 PM

peasypod

Better fix lothruin a drink while you're at it... Mar 01 05, 5:36 PM

lothruin

Just had to chime in, as the subject is of moderate interest to me. :D Mar 01 05, 5:38 PM

Baloo55th

Don't think she'd like Snecklifter. I know better than to offer you one. Only got one left, anyway (only had two). Something odd in the posts. I found a post from her saying she hoped it wouldn't upset me, and giving more info. Not easy to upset me anyway, but never usually done by adding info. Then when I clicked it, the hoping not to bit had vanished. Mar 01 05, 5:40 PM

peasypod

Our pal lothruin has a red star Baloo... Mar 01 05, 5:42 PM

Baloo55th

Most subjects are of moderate interest to me, with the exceptions listed in my blurb which should include synchronised swimming if it doesn't already. Some subjects are of great interest, on the other hand. Mar 01 05, 5:46 PM

Baloo55th

I suppose you don't get into trouble for wearing them in America now..... Mar 01 05, 5:52 PM

peasypod

In about half an hour I have an appointment with an architect to help me design some areas in my restaurant and although I do have columns-pillars etc, I did like the idea of having some of these female figures around the place, to add to the atmosphere and ambiance... Mar 01 05, 5:53 PM

Baloo55th

All you need is some pillars, some plaster and an impoverished art student..... Mar 01 05, 5:56 PM

lothruin

Er, yeah, I read the question, got distracted, answered the question, found Baloo had already answered, deleted my gimboid and just tacked on the extra info because I like it. I'm an editor for chat, but occasionally, I delete my own gimboid answers to save McGruff the trouble. Peasy, I love vintage-style architecture, and while Baloo's starving artist idea is a good one, I might also recommend seeing if your town has an architectural antique store. If my smallish city of 250,000 can support one, I'm guessing most larger places have them. That way you can say to your architect, "Oh, by the way, I have these awesome pillars, please find a place to put them." Mar 01 05, 6:06 PM

peasypod

Thanks, I'm off now to see what I can design with her. As for the impoverished art student, I have one of those and she's asking me to pose nude for her next week for her art assessment....Stay tuned. Mar 01 05, 6:09 PM

gmackematix

You stay toned, Peasy, and I'm sure we'll stay tuned! So who were telamons named after? Mar 01 05, 7:35 PM

peasypod

Yeah right, as if I'd do it....unless I was plastered myself... Mar 01 05, 8:43 PM

lothruin

Telamon is greek for bearer. Makes sense. It is also the name of an argonaut, the father of Ajax, who's nickname in the Iliad was "the Wall". Mar 01 05, 10:05 PM

lothruin

That is to say Ajax's nickname was "the wall". Mar 01 05, 10:06 PM

gmackematix

A sub-yay to my sub-question there, Loth. Mar 02 05, 8:07 PM

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