Un oikèma appelé Erechtheion (Pausanias, I, 26, 5)

A close reading of Pausanias’ visit of the north side of the Athenian Acropolis suggests that the present identification of the Erechtheion, which dates back to the seventeenth century, is highly doubtful, as some very few scholars have concluded during the last three decades. The present analysis addresses the word "oikema" used by Pausanias in his description of the Acropolis, comparing this use with all the other places where it appears in the Periegesis. We may conclude that the asymetrical Ionic temple was completely devoted to Athena Polias. Therefore, the so-called Erechtheion has still to be found.