caryatid definition
A caryatid from the Erechtheion, standing in contrapposto, displayed at the British Museum. A caryatid (/kÃ¦riËÃ¦tÉªd/; Greek: ÎºÎ±ÏÏÎ¬ÏÎ¹Ï, plural: ÎºÎ±ÏÏÎ¬ÏÎ¹Î´ÎµÏ) is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. The Greek term karyatides literally means maidens of Karyai, an ancient town of Peloponnese.