The Roman emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117-138) left arches in many cities he visited. The arch in Athens marks the entry to the Temple of Zeus. Rant and Reddish describe the arch:
The imposing Arch of Hadrian was constructed in honor of the emperor following the completion of the temple [to Zeus], and Hadrian himself walked through it to attend the dedication of the temple in 131 C.E. The western side of the arch (toward the old city) carries the inscription “This is Athens, the city of Theseus.” The inscription on the eastern side of the arch facing the temple (and toward a section of Athens that had been newly renovated by Hadrian) states, “This is the city of Harrian and not of Theseus. (A Guide to Biblical Sites in Greece and Turkey, 33)
To get a photo like this one requires some good footwork. The arch faces one of the busiest streets in Athens, but one must move out into the street between cars to get an unobstructed view.
Photoshop, and some other photo editing programs, provide the opportunity to manipulate photos in unusual ways. Here is the same photo textured as if it were painted on canvas.
The fourth major persecution of the church by the Roman Empire came in the days of Hadrian.
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Great post! I’ve always wanted to visit Athens, still hoping that one day I may have the chance to go there and feel and see the wonderful things in Athens and not just in photos or videos anymore. If you are looking for a travel inspiration, http://www.simplyathens.org/ has everything you need to know. Travel ideas, Events, guides, what to do, where to go in Athens.
You’re right about the footwork. I’ve risked my neck countless times trying to get a good shot too.There was talk of pedestrianising the avenue (traffic would go through a tunnel) but that was before the “crisis” began.
Where is this arch located in Athens?