Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (1.1882-1883)

THE ERECHTHEION.

221

of the northern wall,* are projecting stones, 0.65 m. in width, to which
corresponds a hole, also 0.65 m. wide, in the southern wall.f The
present wall east of the cistern was then the foundation of a wall of
some sort, probably of the same age as the temple, which divided
the building from top to bottom.

There was a second cross-wall about half way between the last-
mentioned wall and the eastern front of the temple. J At this point
the stones of both the north and south wall show clearly that a cross-
wall existed, for their surfaces were evidently prepared to receive such
a wall; § but no foundations remain.

The Erechtheion was thus divided into three parts, the two eastern
rooms being nearly equal in size, while the western division was much
narrower than the others. The eastern apartment had its entrance
from the east, while the other two must generally have been entered
through the great door opening on the northern portico. There was
the same difference of level between the floors of the rooms to which
these entrances gave admission which has been noticed between the
entrances themselves. There was no basement under the eastern
cella, nor was the building in any part two-storied. The floor of the
eastern cella was raised one step above the threshold, and joined the
side walls where they are patched with modern brick work. (PI. III.)
If it had been lower than this, it must have left visible traces; and
it is hardly conceivable that it should have been higher. The space
under this floor was filled with a foundation of Piraic stone like that
now remaining in the corners. When the Erechtheion was altered to
suit the demands of the Christian worship, the floor of the whole
edifice was placed at the level of the ancient floor of the two western
divisions. All the inner foundations of the eastern cella were torn
away, except a few stones in the corners; and part of the foundation
of the eastern porch was removed to make room for the apse of the
church (PI. I., y). The Piraic stones which remain show by their
position, as well as by their dressed edges, that they did not originally
form the face of a wall, but were embedded in a solid foundation,
which probably filled all, or at least a great part, of the space under
the floor of the eastern cella (cf. Borrmann in Mitth. d. deictsch. Inst.,

* See PI. IV., e, e ; and Fig. I, p. 223. The two rectanguiar holes in the first
and third courses are, as their workmanship show, of late origin.

t PI. III., ;-. X PI. 1., B. § Fl. Ill, p, 0 ; PI. IV., m, n.