Hadrian's Arch

Hadrian's Arch

Introduction The arch is a boundary marker between ancient and modern Athens, built in 132 AD. Its purpose was to demarcate the border between the old city of Athens and the new city. The arch stands 59 feet high, 41 feet wide, and 7.5 feet thick, with an archway 20 feet wide. It is an imposing and majestic structure.

The arch's buttresses are decorated with ancient Greek Corinthian columns, featuring capitals with multiple layers of leaves, and the bases of the columns are adorned with linear patterns. Different inscriptions are carved on the back side of the arch. On the side facing the northwest toward the Acropolis, it reads “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus,” while on the side facing the Temple of Olympian Zeus, it says “This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus.” The arch features an upper story, giving it a distinct appearance compared to other arches.

Athens, Greece