In Greece, during the Vth and VIth century BC, it was apparently common to use women statues – called Caryatids (from Latin Caryatides and Greek Karutides), literally "maidens of Karuai", a region of Laconia in southern Greece - in place of plain columns as structural elements in a building. Alternatively men could also be used for this purpose – they were then called Atlante, after Atlas the Greek god - as you can precisely see on this photo that I did not take in Greece but in the 10th arrondissement of Paris! It shows a small piece of the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin which was first erected in 1781, but was totally destroyed during La Commune and reconstructed in 1873. I have been surprised to find out that it now belongs to Michel Sardou, a famous French singer.
In fact no, not really. This theater is near the PORTE Saint Martin, whereas the Canal is further away to the east. Easy to go there though; I am sure you'll enyoy it (I will post a photo of the Canal soon).
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