The Arch of Hadrian in Athens

The Arch of Hadrian was built in 131-132 AD by the Athenians, located outside the enclosure of the Temple of Olympian Zeus to the northwest, as a gesture of gratitude to Emperor Hadrian for his numerous contributions to Athens. It was situated on an ancient road that connected the city to the Parilian Sanctuaries and served as a landmark between the old and new cities. The monument, standing 18 meters tall and 13 meters wide, has two identical facades and is divided vertically into two distinct sections. The lower part follows the Roman design of a triumphal arch, while the upper part imitates a Greek-style propylaeum. Above the arched passage, there are inscriptions: on the western side, "This is Athens, the city of Theseus," and on the eastern side, "This is the city of Hadrian, not of Theseus." In 1778, the arch was incorporated into the eastern section of the Ottoman fortifications of Athens, known as the "Haseki Wall," and transformed into a gate, commonly referred to as the "Princess Gate" or "Kamara Gate." During the period when the gate was architecturally recorded by James Stuart and Nicholas Revett in the mid-18th century, the base of the gate was buried about 1 meter underground. Since it was never protected from being buried over the 19 centuries of its existence, the gate has been exceptionally well-preserved in modern times. Although the columns of the lower level are missing, the gate still stands tall above the modern Avenue of Queen Amalia. Pictured: A tram passing in front of the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, in the early 1950s. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.