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Caryatid for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: ,kæri'ætɪd

What does Caryatid really mean?

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Hey there! So, the word "Caryatid" is a pretty interesting one. It's a little bit of a fancy word, but I'll do my best to explain it to you in a way that makes sense!

Imagine a building with columns supporting the roof. Now, picture those columns being shaped like human figures instead of just plain old pillars. Those human-shaped columns are what we call Caryatids.

So, when we talk about Caryatids, we're talking about architectural elements that are designed to look like women, usually standing in a specific pose, supporting the weight of the structure above them. They can be found in ancient Greek and Roman buildings, and they're often used to add a sense of elegance and beauty to a building's design.

If you've ever seen the pictures of old buildings with statuesque women holding up the roof, those are Caryatids!

Basically, a Caryatid is a decorative architectural feature that takes the form of a human figure, and it's used as a support for a building or structure. So, the next time you see those unique column-shaped figures, you'll know that they're called Caryatids!


Revised and Fact checked by Michael Davis on 2023-11-13 17:44:48

Caryatid In a sentece

Learn how to use Caryatid inside a sentece

  • In ancient Greek architecture, a caryatid is a sculpted female figure used as a column or a support for a building.
  • The Parthenon in Athens has caryatids holding up the roof of the porch.
  • The Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis of Athens features caryatids instead of columns on one side of the porch.
  • Some modern buildings incorporate caryatid-inspired sculptures as decorative elements.
  • When you see a building with statues of women serving as pillars, those are called caryatids.

Caryatid Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.