1. 10. GATE /ARCH OF HADRIAN Date of construction: 131-132 AD
2. Athens during Hadrian’ s rule (1) Gate of Hadrian, (2) temple of Olympian Zeus, (3) Acropolis,(4) Odeion of Herodes Atticus, (5) Athenian Agora, (6) Roman Agora, (7) Library of Hadrian
9. The arch was constructed without cement or mortar from solid marble, using clamps to connect the cut stones.
10. The single arched passageway of the lower level is 6.5m wide and was supported by pilasters on rectangular raised bases crowned with Corinthian capitals.
11. Similar, but taller, pilasters flank the outer corners of the lower level. The space between the outer pilasters and the arched opening was filled in with squared stones with drafted edges to emphasize the design. Description
12. Its design is symmetrical from front to back and side to side.
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14. The central opening of the upper level was originally closed off by a thin screen of stone, ca 7cm thick.
15. The design of this central aediculum-like niche of the upper level is similar to the architecture of the scaenaefronsand highly evocative of the representations of aediculae in wall painting of the 2nd Pompeian style.
16. At the peak of the pediment, there was a small vegetal acroterion.Description
17. The scaenaefrons of the Theater of Marcellus in Rome, 1st century BC.Aediculae in wall-paintings in the villa of FanniusSynistor close to PompeiiCorinthian capitals of the Arch’s upper level pilasters
18. The Gate of Hadrian in Ephesus (117 AD or 123 AD), which is considered to be the model for the Gate of Hadrian in Athens. The third level of this Gate bears certain similarities to the upper level of the Gate in Athens. ΙΜΕ
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20. On the northwest side (towards the Acropolis), the inscription was: ΑΙΔ' ΕIΣΙΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ Η ΠΡΙΝ ΠΟΛΙΣ (This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus).
21. The inscription on the southeast side (facing the Temple of Olympian Zeus) was: ΑΙΔ' ΕIΣΙΝ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΚΟΥΧI ΘΗΣΕΩΣ ΠΟΛΙΣ (This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus). Inscriptions
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23. In opposition to these suggestions, others state that there is no evidence of the type of doweling needed to mount statuary on the top of the lower level and that the stone is far too roughly worked on the upper surface for statues to rest on it. Statues on the Gate?
24. . Very few roman triumphal arches are found in Greece. On the left the Arch of Galerius in Thessaloniki (beginning of the 4th century AD) which spanned the Via Egnatia. On the right the Arch of Titus in Rome (1st century AD). Τhe lower level of the Arch of Hadrian falls within the gamut of the architectural genre. Roman triumphal arches, however, typically have a massive, solid upper level, often filled with a dedicatory inscription and sculptural decoration. They typically supported major stone or bronze statuary, often including a quadriga (four-horse chariot) or something similar at the top centre.