Ancient Athens 3D
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Ancient Athens 3D |
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ROMAN ATHENS 86 B.C.-267 A.D. ROMAN MARKET - LIBRARY OF HADRIAN The group of the Roman Market and the Library of Hadrian was constructed East of the Agora, exactly behind the Stoa of Attalos. It was the centre of the commercial activity in the roman years. In the next years until the beginning of the 19th century, the area of the Roman Market, was occupied from newer buildings and continued to have commercial use and it was known as the Bazaar of Athens. To see the images in full screen, just click on them!
Roman Market (19-11 B.C.) The story of the Roman Market (or The Market of Caesar and Augustus) begins with the donation of Julius Caesar in 51 B.C. for the construction of a market. In 47 B.C. when Julius Caesar visited Athens it seems that the plans were prepared and possibly some work began , that however was interrupted. The main work however began and was completed from Augustus between 19 and 11 B.C. The Roman Market was the first organised commercial centre of Athens. All the commercial activities were transported there and mainly the trade of oil. The building was almost square with an internal colonnade that accommodated the shops. It had two entries: the Eastern was of ionic order and a western one of Doric order that is known as "The Gate of Archigetis Athena".
Library of Hadrian (132 A.D.) The Library of Hadrian was built around 132 A.D. by the emperor Hadrian. It is a rectangular building with dimensions 122 x 82 m. It had an internal courtyard with a garden and a pool in the centre. In the Eastern part there were the rooms where the papyruses with the texts were accommodated. The two rooms in each wing were amphitheatres where lecturestook place. There were also two other smaller rooms that were used as reading rooms. In 267 A.D. the Library was destroyed during the raid of Heruli. The remains were incorporated into the late roman wall. In the christian period, were successively built three churches.
The Tower of the Winds This octagon building was constructed around 47 B.C. by the astronomer Andronicus Kyrrestes. On the top of each side, there are bas-reliefs that represent the winds. On the top of the roof there was a bronze statue of a Triton that according to the actual wind showed with his trident one from the bas-reliefs. Thus the tradesmen could see from the nearby Market the direction of the winds so that they could calculate the time the merchandises needed to reach the port of Piraeus. A solar clock also existed in each side. During the cloudy days one could see the time from the hydraulic clock that was found in the interior. During the Ottoman domination it was used as a Tekes (Muslim monastery). This helped in its excellent preservation until today.
Vespasianai (1st c. A.D.) This square building was built in the 1st century A.D. and was used as a public toilet of the Roman Market. The building took its name after the emperor Vespasian who built many similar buildings around the Roman empire. In order to use them you had to pay a small amount.
The "Agoranomeion" (circa 50 A.D.) It is a building of unknown use whose facade includes three arches made from grey Hymettus marble . The access to it was made via a big staircase. The older hypothesis for the identification of the monument as the "Agoranomeion" appears to be invalid. Most likely, it was dedicated in the imperial family (Sebasteion). But according to newer researches, the arches may have been the monumental entry to a street with stoas.
The Pantheon (130 A.D.) The Pantheon is known through various philological sources. It was a temple dedicated to the gods and was built by Hadrian around 130 A.D. The place where it stood is not known with precision. Nevertheless, the foundations of a big building that were found east of the Library of Hadrian, very likely belong to the Pantheon.
THE ACROPOLIS - SOUTH SLOPE OF ACROPOLIS
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