Arch of Hadrian - Athens
I present to you a midnight photograph of the Arch of Hadrian constructed out of Pentelic marble in 131 A.D. next to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.
By Alexios Demos on December 11, 2019
Arch of Hadrian at Midnight | Athens | © Copyright 2021 Alexios Demos
Indicative Information | Free Entrance | Anytime 24H | Athens, Leoforos Vasilisis Amalias 50, Postcode: 10558
Visiting Hadrian’s Arch at midnight on a quiet winter Monday made me remember the great poet Horace who exclaimed Graecia Capta Ferum Victorem Cepit - "Captive Greece Captured her rude Conqueror".
“I have always felt this arch feels more like a guardian of both modern Athens and the ancient world located near to the Temple of Olympian Zeus”
Nonetheless, it was an opportunity to fall in love with a location in Athens that in the past I had only experienced swearing vehemently stuck in road traffic!
Arch of Hadrian - Athens
◾◾◾
I present to you a midnight photograph of the Arch of Hadrian constructed out of Pentelic marble in 131 A.D. next to the Temple of Olympian Zeus. This is an iconic structure of Athens and the reason I am showcasing it even though it is not an ancient Greek temple is because I have always felt this arch feels more like a guardian of both modern Athens and the ancient world located near to the Temple of Olympian Zeus while also overlooking the Parthenon nearly creating a visual link and photographic framing (when it was constructed) of both sites. One side of the arch reads ΑΙΔ' ΕΙΣΙΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ Η ΠΡΙΝ ΠΟΛΙΣ “this is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus” (the other side of our photograph). Apparently, emperor Hadrian got rather jealous as you can still read on the other side ΑΙΔ' ΕΙΣ' ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΚΟΥΧΙ ΘΗΣΕΩΣ ΠΟΛΙΣ “this is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus”.
◾◾◾
Visiting Hadrian’s Arch at midnight on a quiet winter Monday made me remember the great poet Horace who exclaimed Graecia Capta Ferum Victorem Cepit - "Captive Greece Captured her rude Conqueror". This was an era of honor where even superior opponents borrowed great ideas and ideals of the Hellenic world and it truly is a pity that today the link to this ancient wisdom has been severed. Nonetheless, it was an opportunity to fall in love with a location in Athens that in the past I had only experienced swearing vehemently stuck in road traffic!
◾◾◾
Date of Visit: Dec 10, 2019
Weather Conditions: About To Rain a Humid Winter Night
◾◾◾
Comentarios