Hadrian's Library, Roman archaeological library in Monastiraki, Greece
Hadrian's Library is an ancient Roman ruin site in Monastiraki, Athens. The grounds span a rectangular area with a central courtyard once surrounded by colonnades and several chambers along the outer walls.
The emperor commissioned the structure in the second century CE to house scrolls and provide spaces for public readings and discussions. Later, during the Byzantine period, Christian churches were erected within the walls, changing the original function.
The library was also called the University of Athens. In Byzantine times three churches stood on the site, including the Megali Panagia, the city's first cathedral, destroyed by fire in 1884. A colossal statue of Nike from the 1st century BC, found here in 1988, is displayed in the small on-site museum.
The grounds lie near Monastiraki metro station and are reached via narrow streets in the historic center. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, as paths cross uneven ancient paving and stone slabs.
The western facade still shows original Corinthian capitals atop columns crafted from two different marble types. This combination of white Pentelic and green-veined Cipollino marble was typical for representative buildings during the Hadrianic era.
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