Hadrian's Arch and Library, Athens

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Αρχαιολογικος Χωρος Βιβλιοθηκη Αδριανου or the Library of Hadrian was built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, c. 131/132 A.D. The archaeological site is still under excavation and is being restored, so that it is not yet open to the general public. But you can get adequate views from the Areos Street on the west, Dexippou Street on the south, and Aeolou Street on the east.

The complex originally consisted of a large rectangular area enclosed by tall walls. Inside the walls was an open-air courtyard, surrounded by columns of marble imported from Turkey. In the center of this peristyle court was a long pool and probably a garden. At the far eastern end, there were several rooms that formed the "library" proper. Although this monument has been called the "Library of Hadrian" since the early 19th century A.D., that is a modern nickname: it is really a type of imperial Roman forum (modelled after the Forum of Peace built by the emperor Vespasian in Rome).

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The arch was built in 131 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian as part of the wall, separating New and Old Athens. The gate is 18 m. high and decorated after the Corintian style. Hadrian's reign was distinguished by its peaceful years and a lot of time and energy were devoted to construction and arts.

The arch is located south from the National Garden on Amalias Avenue.

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...........is not really open yet. It is still being excavated and restored.

So it's up to you whether you consider going into the site is worth it or not (you can see the fronta of the library from the roadside).

When I visited only the frontage was accessible.

The Library is huge and dates from 132AD (built during Hadrian's reign, obviously). A hundred columns surrounded a courtyard, and it was much more than just a store for bookd (well, scrolls). The original contents included artwork, and there were spaces for speeches/lectures too.

But look at the entrance steps, at least (see other photo)...........and consider how many hundreds of thousands of feet must have trodden them to have worn them down so much.

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The Library of Hadrian considered to be founded by the emperor of that name after II-th century A.D. This was a colonnaded court measuring 122 by 82m with semicircular recesses in the external walls.

The entrance was on the west side and part of this richly decorated with Corinthian columns and a four-column propylon has been preserved.

You may watch my high resolution photo of Athens on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates or on my Google Earth Panoramio Vivliothiki tou Adrianou .

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The Arch of Hadrian is a monumental gateway resembling a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his many benefactions to the city.

You may watch my high resolution photo of Athens on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37º 58' 12.94" N 23º 43' 54.94" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Arch of Hadrian .

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The Arch of Hadrian is a monumental gateway resembling – in some respects - a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD.

There were two inscriptions on the arch, facing in opposite directions, naming both Theseus and Hadrian as founders of Athens. While it is clear that the inscriptions honor Hadrian, it is uncertain whether they refer to the city as a whole or to the city in two parts: one old and one new. The early idea, however, that the arch marked the line of the ancient city wall, and thus the division between the old and the new regions of the city, has been shown to be false by further excavation. The arch is located 325m southeast of the Acropolis.

This Hadrian fellow was quite busy, as he dedicated an arch, built a library, and had the Temple of Olympian Zeus finished during his tenure. Still being excavated, and only now offering a little to see, the library was at one time a very large structure. Please correct if I am wrong, but from this library came a significant advance in writing/communications when the Queen of Egypt banned the Library of Alexandria to ship scrolls, the main and by far the most common form of writing or manuscript, to Greece. In response to this workers at the Hadrian Library developed papyrus paper, which would then make the scroll obsolete.

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A typical roman triumph arch that was the gateway between Acropolis(that is 300m away) and the Temple of Olympian Zeus (you can see what’s left of it at the back side of the arch) and marked the line of the ancient city wall. The arch was built in honor of the roman emperor Hadrian in 131 A.D.

There are two inscriptions written on the gate:
“This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus”
"This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus"

It’s 18m high and pentelic marble was used for the Arch like in most of structrures in Athens (Parthenon etc). For many years it was under construction because the pollution has damaged part of the stone.

I like to pass by the Arch from time to time and even at night looks nice, that's why sometimes I walk till there instead taking a bus to Syntagma square...