Арка Адріана Hadrian's Arch

Rating 8110

The construction of the arch began in 131 AD, when the local authorities wanted to celebrate the arrival of the Roman emperor Hadrian and thank him for his benevolence to the city. The architect and builders of the arch are still unknown. Its location is not accidental, but rather symbolic. In fact, it was strategically chosen to mark the border between the ancient part of Athens and Hadrian's new city.
Made of fine Pentelic marble, this arch is 18 meters high, 12.5 meters wide and 2.3 meters deep. Its architecture is similar to other Roman arches and is crowned with Corinthian pilasters. The structure is completely symmetrical. The monument has two parts. In the center of the lower part there is an arched gate through which people can pass. The upper part is the remains of a colonnade, crowned with a triangular pediment.
Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side facing the Acropolis, says: "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus", and the second, on the side facing the new city, says: "This is the city of Hadrian, not Theseus". It is clear that the ancient city formed new areas due to the expansion that was made by the emperor. Given that the monument was never fully protected, it has survived time in an extraordinary state. Unfortunately, in recent decades, pollution has caused significant discoloration of the original material and degradation of the inscriptions.