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Hadrian's Arch in Athens, with the
Acropolis seen in the background.
[edit] History
The Arch of Hadrian is a triumphal arch which lies on an ancient street (Amalias Avenue) that led from the old city of Athens to the new, Roman section, built by Hadrian. It was constructed by the Athenians in A.D. 131, in honor of their benefactor emperor. Two inscriptions are carved on the architrave, one on each side: the first, on the side towards the Acropolis reads "This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"; the second, on the other side, facing the new city reads "This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus". The newer, Roman section of the city was added to the ancient city during the period of the Roman peace. It is often referred to as Hadrianopolis.
[edit] Dimensions
The central arched opening of the monument is supported by pilasters crowned with Corinthian capitals. Similar, but taller pilasters flank the outer corners. The arch is crowned by a series of Corinthian columns and pilasters, with an Ionic architrave at the ends, and an entablature with a triangular pediment in the middle. The whole monument is made of Pentelic marble. The marble came from Mt. Pentelikon, a nearby mountain.
It is 18 meters high and towers over Amalias Avenue, separating the old part of the city from the new.
[edit] Current Events
Currently, the arch is being restored. Led by chemical engineer Nikos Beloyannis of the Greek Ministry of Culture's Stone Conservation Center, a team will clean and patch the surface of the monument over the next two years.
[edit] External links
