Hadrian's Library
Athens Municipality
Roman library in Athens
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Hadrian's Library
Welcome to the heart of Roman Athens. You are standing before the remains of Hadrian's Library, a monumental complex built in one hundred and thirty-two of the Common Era by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. …
Listen in the app2The Propylaea and the Marble Facade
We start our tour at the grand entrance, or Propylaea, on the western side of the complex. As you approach, the first thing you notice is the towering wall of the facade, adorned with Corinthian columns. …
Listen in the app3The Peristyle Courtyard and Inner Gardens
Passing through the entrance, you would have found yourself in the vast inner courtyard. This was a massive rectangular space surrounded by a peristyle—a continuous walkway of one hundred columns. …
Listen in the app4The Library Hall and Scroll Storage
At the eastern end of the complex lay the library's most important room: the hall of scrolls. This was where the actual 'books'—thousands of papyrus scrolls and early parchment codices—were kept. …
Listen in the app5The Lecture Rooms and Semi-Circular Theaters
In the corners of the complex, Hadrian included semi-circular rooms that functioned as small lecture theaters. These were the venues for formal presentations, poetry readings, and teaching sessions. …
Listen in the app6The Tetraconch Church and Byzantine Repurposing
The history of Hadrian's Library did not end with the fall of Rome. In the fifth century of the Common Era, a large church was built in the center of the library's courtyard. …
Listen in the app7Views of the Tower of the Winds and Roman Agora
From the southern edge of the library complex, you have a perfect vantage point of the neighboring sites: the Roman Agora and the Tower of the Winds. The Roman Agora was the new commercial heart of the city, established in the…
Listen in the app8Hadrian's Library
As we conclude our tour of Hadrian's Library, take one last look at the massive columns of the facade. This complex was more than just a building; it was a symbol of an emperor's love for a city and its culture. …
Listen in the app
What is Hadrian's Library?
Hadrian's Library is a place in Athens Municipality with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Athens Municipality |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 37.9756, 23.7261 |
| Last updated |
