House with Caryatids Athens
An urban legend
Every time I visit the popular neighborhood of Psirri, I make a small detour to admire the house with the Caryatides and recall the urban legend connected to it. The house has become part of the city’s history but remains relatively unknown to its visitors. The house is known for the two wonderful Caryatid sculptures located on the balcony of its facade. The house was built in the late 19th century and is a typical example of Athenian neoclassicism. The Caryatids are the work of the sculptor Ioannis Karakatsanis, who was the owner of the house. The models for the statues were his wife Xanthi and her sister Eudoxia.
The urban legend that accompanied them was created by the barber, Panagiotis Kritikakos, who kept his shop on the ground floor. He was telling his clients - possibly for reasons of fame - that the owner ordered the Caryatids in memory of his two daughters who mysteriously died. The barber's story was that the two daughters had been poisoned by their evil stepmother, the owner's supposed second wife, who was jealous of them.
But apart from the legend, the sculptures and their fine art had a strong influence on various artists, such as the French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, the Greek painter Yannis Tsarouchis, and the Greek novelist Costas Taktsis (who used elements of their legend in his famous novel "The Third Wedding Wreath"). In 1989, the house was put under the protection of the Ministry of Culture, and in 2001, the sculptures were restored.
About this spot
Pl. Agion Asomaton 45-47
- 247
€
no-price
Find your way with 263 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Nice place right!? There’s so much more to discover:
Discover all other hidden gems in Athens
Zefyros
An open air cinephile experience
Here is where viewers, myself included, got to know the worlds of Bunuel, Welles, Tarkovsky, Ozu, Bergman, and many more emblematic filmmakers.
by
Antonis
Tsapepas
Lefteris o Politis
Simply delicious souvlaki
A well-cooked pita, a juicy burger, tomato, and onion are a unique and tasty combination. It is the epitome of delicious simplicity.
by
Antonis
Tsapepas
Talking Breads
Talking about street food
My favourite burger is the Bacon Mushroom Melt, and my favourite sandwich is the Tika, which is slightly spicy and causes a chain of flavour explosions!
by
Antonis
Tsapepas
Shedia
Human is the answer
Shedia is heavily focused on sustainability and inclusivity: pets have their own menu, the menu is also offered in Braille, and the oil used is produced by the Niarchos park trees and then recycled.
by
Zoe
Tziakou
Teras
A pretty monster
Teras is full of contradictions: it is unconventionally named (teras means 'monster' in greek) in an ugly way but it is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy your drink.
by
Zoe
Tziakou
KAFAO
Street art everywhere
We call these boxes KAFAO (ΚΑΦΑΟ in Greek) and they are basically the Greekized pronunciation of the German acronym KV (Ka-Fau)...
by
Andreas
Papadopoulos
Rizopoulos Coffee 1901
The oldest coffee house
The story of Rizopoulos family's involvement with coffee begins in the early 20th century, specifically in 1901, when Andreas Rizopoulos arrived in Athens,
by
Andreas
Papadopoulos
To 24oro
Budget restaurant around the clock
It's really close to both Akropoli and Syggrou-Fix metro station, it has a nice vibe, a great selection of Greek international dishes and large portions!
by
Dimitris
Hall
CatDog Urban Bar
Berlin meets Pokemon
I've been here with friends and they've all been amazed at the low prices, cool vibe and '90s memorabilia. Even the cocktails are named after Pokemon!
by
Dimitris
Hall
Kitschen
Port-side Asian fusion Nirvana
Once you enter, you will be amazed by the Japanese-cool decoration, especially by the huge blue mural with the 3D elements and the pink circle.
by
Dimitris
Hall
Kalos Aeras
Fine dining at home
Although Kalos Aeras is located on a busy road, there is no noise penetrating the leafy veranda, and stepping into the house is like time-traveling back to the 60s.
by
Zoe
Tziakou
Plateia Proskopon
Past glories
Plateia Proskopon is surely not as hip as Plateia Varnava or other spots in Pagrati but has a unique atmosphere.
by
Zoe
Tziakou
Heading to Athens?
263 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
... for just €9.99
Heading to Athens?
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 263 Insider Tips
✓ Escape the Crowds
✓ Find Spots nearby
✓ Authentic Stories
... for just €9.99
City guides by those who know the city in and out!
Our Locals' Favorite Art & culture
Our team loves Athens
Get to know our other Spotters from Athens
As featured on:
