The caryatid is a term widely used in architecture to refer to any sculpture of a female figure with a columnar aspect, it comes with a talar suit and an entablature to support the head. These kinds of sculptures are widely seen in ancient Greece. However, its definition can be adopted for any sculpture of a female figure that is used as a pillar. One of the most typical examples is located in the tribune of the caryatids in the Erechtheion, one of the temples of the Athenian acropolis. Its name is said to mean "inhabitants of the Caria park", in Laconia. And according to the storyThe city of Caria was an ally of the Persians during the war, so once they were defeated by the other Greeks, their women were captured and turned into slaves, forcing them to carry large, very heavy loads. That is why, in memory of these ladies, their images were carved, instead of popular Greek sculptures, so that in this way they continue to be condemned to bear the weight of the temple for all eternity.
However, the figure of female sculptures were already used as columns before the wars began, so determining their exact origin can be a bit complicated, although their concept has always been linked to slavery. The caryatids can be seen not only in Athens, but in many other parts of the world, in any city and at a specific historical moment, transforming into another element within artistic architecture.
The figure of a caryatid carrying a basket on her head represents the women who carried sacred objects used in festivals in honor of the goddess Athena or Artemis. There is the case of the French sculptor Jean Goujon, who was the architect and sculptor of the French King Henry II, who, without ever having seen a sculpture of the caryatids, was able to sculpt the rostrum for the musicians, which was supported by these figures. The male part of these figures is called Atlantean or Telamon, alluding to the story of the God Atlas, who is the one who holds the sphere of the world in his arms.
