Arch of Hadrian

The Arch of Hadrian, also known as Hadrian’s Gate, is a Roman triumphal arch built in the 2nd century AD in honour of Hadrian, the great Roman emperor who visited Athens in 131 AD. Back then, it marked the dividing line between the old city and the new Roman one built during the reign of Hadrian. The arch itself is 18 metres tall and bears two inscriptions, one on each side, that clearly demarcate the old and the new city. On one side, it reads “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus”, while on the other “This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus”. The gate thus pays tribute to King Theseus and Emperor Hadrian, two of Athens’ greatest rulers, who both left their mark on the city’s history. Right behind it, you’ll find yet another of Athens’ iconic monuments, the famous Temple of Olympian Zeus, also known as Olympieion. It dates back to the 6th century BC and it’s mostly in ruins today, with only some of its columns still standing. It’s dedicated to Zeus, father of all gods, and it was for many centuries the biggest temple in all of Greece! Picture 104 massive Corinthian columns, each 15 meters high, framing a temple nearly 100 meters long and 40 meters wide! Of course it was grand – after all, it was built to honor the king of the gods himself… Just a heads-up: if you want to see the ruins up close, you’ll have to pay a ticket.