It is estimated to have been built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian. 
 
Hadrian developed since a very early age an affection for Greece and its culture, which can be attributed to his education. 
 
During his reign, he visited Athens several times and became known as a lover and admirer of all Greek things. During this tour, you will see quite a few other sites that can be attributed to Hadrian, such as the temple of Olympian Zeus. Hadrian used to dress as an Athenian, and surrounded his palace with buildings bearing Greek names. In gratitude for his support of Greek culture and for his benevolent reign, the Athenians erected his statue beside the statues of other loved and renowned heroes. Hadrian, as a ruler and conqueror, was quite a relief, in comparison to all the others who passed over Athens. 
 
The library itself was built on the north side of the Acropolis, and it was said to contain nearly twenty thousand scrolls (the books of that time). In other rooms of the building, lectures were carried out and could be attended. The inside ceiling was covered in gold and alabaster objects decorated the interior. Now that sounds like a proper library, doesn't it? On top of all that, a large chunk of space was taken up by the indoor courtyard, containing an oblong pool. The library was said to have three stories, but today the third cannot be found. 
 
Like all archaeological sites in Athens that have survived to this day, Hadrian's creation withstood severe damage and changes from invaders. Great damage was done during the 3rd century by the Herulian invasion, but was repaired by a Roman prefect, a couple of centuries later. As time passed and Christianity took over, the library found itself surrounded by churches, and the building itself was eventually turned into a church, during the Byzantine years. After Greece was put under Ottoman rule, the local appointed Governor of the city situated himself in the library, and changed it accordingly. Today, the columns stand proud amongst the ruins, and the ongoing excavations leave us wondering what else might see the light of day.

Hadrian's Library

The Roman Agora was built during the reign of the emperor Augustus, at the beginning of the first century BC. It is found east of the classical Ancient Greek Agora and their main difference is that the Roman Agora was built with the goal of functioning as a financial and commercial center of transactions. The Agora was built to replace the Ancient Greek agora that had by then become something of an old museum, rather than a practical space for transactions, its historical profile more prominent. There were, in short, two Agoras, so don't be alarmed if you get into a weird argument over which Agora you are referring two. It tends to happen. 
It was renovated and further developed by Hadrian. Its creation was deemed necessary after the original Ancient Agora was obstructed and crowded with Roman buildings, such as the Odeion (conservatory) of Agrippa. The most notable buildings characterizing the Roman Agora are the Gate of Athena Archegetis, commonly known as the western gate or entrance, and the Tower of the Winds. 
The Tower of the Winds served as a "horologeion", a time piece. This massive clock functioned as a solar and water clock, as well as a wind vane. There is some debate over the date of its creation. Close to the Tower are located the Vespasiane, or Latrinae, which is the name of the Roman public bathrooms. 
Another notable building is the Agoranomeion, which served as the market inspector's office, and is situated a few metres away from the eastern gate, or Propylaion. Both propylaea, eastern and western, were the main and most important entrance for anyone who entered the Agora. 
After the invasion of the Herulae in the 3rd A.D. century, the city of Athens was restricted to the area within the Late Roman fortification wall, and the administrative and commercial center of the city was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian. 
During the later Byzantine years, as well as the Ottoman occupation, houses, shops and churches were built in the Agora, the most notable of them being the Fethiye Mosque or Djami, a place of religious worship for Muslims. The Mosque was built on an old church during the 15th century AD.

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Roman Agora

After Alexander the Great drew his last breath in Babylon, in the depths of the East, war raged between his aspiring successors, and thus the beginning of the Hellenistic period was marked in blood. His vast empire was finally divided between his three generals. And so, three kingdoms were created, each ruled by the corresponding general's dynasty. The Kingdom of Pergamon was one of them, and for a time, before the decline of the Greek power and the rise of Rome, Pergamon was ruled by the Attalid dynasty. One of the dynasty's kings was Attalus the Second. 
Attalus the Second Philadelphus, meaning Attalus the brother-loving, ruled the ancient kingdom of Pergamon during the second century BC. The Stoa was built as a gift to the city, due to the King's gratitude for the education he received there. On the entrance of the Stoa, an inscription can be found, stating that the building is a gift from the king. 
One of the most well preserved buildings that made it from the Ancient years to our age, the Stoa used to be the largest covered building in Athens at the time it was built. It was used for commerce, and housed various shops and businesses. Having taken 11 years to be built, elaborate in its design and architecture, made of the best quality marble and limestone, the Stoa prospered until the Heruli invasion. As you may have figured out by now, the Heruli did not really have any regard for monuments, or terms such as "cultural value". The ruins were incorporated into the late-roman period fortification wall, and the building was deserted or taken apart to build churches, fortifications and towers during the Frank occupation, and was left unused until the 1950's, were it was reconstructed and used to house the Agora Museum.

Stoa of Attalos

Initially, it was believed that the temple was dedicated to Theseus, the hero of the city, until historical sources proved that it was in fact dedicated to the gods Athena and Hephaestus, protectors of craftsmen. 
Hephaestus can be described as one of the less graceful gods in the Ancient Greek dodekatheon, the pantheon of the twelve major gods. A child of Zeus and Hera, he is reported to have had misshapen legs from birth, with a different story claiming that one of his parents threw him from Mt. Olympus in a fit of rage. He wasn't the luckiest of gods, apparently, and good parenting seemed to be a skill that the gods, for all their godliness, lacked. Hephaestus is the patron god of craftsmen and blacksmiths. In his divine forgery the element of fire was kept. Hephaestus is extremely skilled in his trade, and very clever and inventive. He is also claimed to possess the power of giving motion to non-living things, such as statues. But Hephaestus is also shown to have a vengeful streak, though not a cruel one. His vengeance is satirical and ridicules those who have wronged him. In one story, for example, after finding out that his wife Aphrodite was having an affair with the war god Ares, he captures them in the act with an unbreakable, invisible net and brings them to the rest of the gods as they are humiliated. 
The temple erected in his honor, which is shared with Athena, is estimated to have begun being constructed before the Parthenon, by one of the same architects as the Parthenon, Kallikrates. As Pericles rose to power and strived to turn Athens into an awe-worthy place of worship and prestige, the Hephaisteion's construction was halted to make way for the great work that was the Parthenon. The temple was officially finished in the late 5th century BCE. It remains as one of the best-preserved temples of antiquity to this day, standing as it was built, and having had to undergo comparatively fewer reconstructive and preservative processes. 
At some point during the 7th century AD, the temple was turned into a Christian orthodox church, the church of St. George Akamates. In the19th century, after the Independence War against the Ottoman Empire, the first king of Greece, Otto, ordered the temple to be used as a museum, and so it was used for 100 years, until its archaeological value prevailed and further research begun.

Temple of Hephaestus

The place where the Agora of the Classic Age was eventually founded had been used long before, however, it was in the 6th century BC, during the age of the famed legislator Solon, where the Agora was officially used as a public space. 
The Agora became the heart of the city, a place not only meant for commercial use, but also the center of political, social, legislative and administrative action in Ancient Greece. It was the location of burial sites, dating back to long before the Agora was created, and of courts. Meetings were held four times every year in the Agora to discuss matters of legislative and diplomatic nature. Sometimes, the process of ostracism (voting for a citizen to be exiled from the city) was held there. It is needless to say that there was also a large amount of religious activity. The ancient Greeks, being all about religion, erected temples meant to honor the gods, such as the Temple of Hephaestus, The Temple of Aphrodite Urania, and the Altar of the Twelve Gods. 
Sadly, the Agora sustained extensive and serious damage throughout the years, its prestige ruined, its buildings buried beneath dirt and rubble. The first serious blow took place during the Second Persian Invasion in the 5th century BC, which caused most of the Athenians to flee the city. The agora was deserted, undefended, and plundered. After the Persians were weakened and had retreated, the Agora was rebuilt, only to withstand damage once more during the 1st century BC, after the Greeks made an unsuccessful alliance with King Mithridates of Pontus, who was pointlessly chasing after the vision of a greater Greece, and sought to reclaim the land and power taken by the Roman Empire. The last and final blow to the Agora took place when the Heruli invaded the city, in the 3rd century AD. Afterwards, during Hadrian's reign, the new walls left the Agora susceptible to damage. It was finally abandoned and all efforts of reconstruction ceased after the Slavic invasion of the 6th century AD. 
As the ages passed, the Agora was buried, and almost forgotten, until Greece's liberation after the Revolution and the subsequent archaeological excavations.

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Ancient Agora of Athens

The hill of Acropolis contains a cluster of archaeological sites, as commissioned by Pericles, and the first one you encounter is the Odeon, or Theater, of Herodes Atticus. The location is one of the few sites that is used for its original purpose, that of entertainment, even to this day. 
The structure lies on the southwest side of the Acropolis. Built in the Roman Era during the 2nd century AD, the theater was commissioned by Herodes Atticus in honor and memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regila. Herodes Atticus was a wealthy and influential member of Athenian aristocracy, with ties to the Roman Emperor himself. He was also cultivated, belonging to the movement of sophists, and served as a Roman senator. The following have been written to describe him: "patron of the arts and letters (and himself a writer and scholar of importance), public benefactor on an imperial scale, not only in Athens but elsewhere in Greece and Asia Minor, holder of many important posts, friend and kinsman of emperors." 
Originally used as a music concert venue, the theater was built in a style which greatly facilitated the travelling and quality of sound. It operated for about 100 years, until the 3rd century AD, where it was destroyed, along with many other monuments, by -guess who- the Heruli. Afterwards, no one could recognize the magnificent Odeon, buried beneath rubble, dirt and stone. It was properly identified by English archaeologist Richard Chandler in the mid-18th century. After proper reconstruction and preservation, the Odeon is used for concerts to this day, especially during the Festival of Athens in the summer months. 
The Odeon was not the only structure Herodes Atticus commissioned in his life, but it is safe to say that it was the one most based on sentimental reasons. 
As for the object of that sentimentality, Regila was betrothed to Herodes Atticus and married him at the age of 14. She was appointed as a priestess of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and became a benefactor of Attica like her husband. But tragedy struck once day. Regila was beaten and kicked to death by a freed slave of her husband's. Herod was overcome with grief, and did monumental efforts to honor her memory. On Regila's tomb, he ordered this inscription: “To the memory of Annia Regilla, wife of Herodes, the light and soul of the house, to whom these lands once belonged”.

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Odeon of Herodes Atticus

A temple built in a time of political turbulence and desperation, the Temple of Athena Nike (meaning Athena Victory) is esteemed to have existed as a building long before the architect Kallikrates took over its design. The temple is predominantly Ionian in its architectural style, and was built upon the ruins of a previous, lesser temple, containing a small altar and the wooden statue of the goddess Athena, possibly left over from the Mycenaean period, but destroyed by the Persians at the beginning of the 5th century BC. 
Officially, it was built near the end of the 5th century BC, during a short period of peace in the midst of the chaos and bloodshed that was the Peloponnesian War, a war that was to last almost 30 years, dividing Greece and leaving it vulnerable to outside forces. It is because of that crucial period of unrest that the Temple acquired a special meaning for the Athenians, becoming a beacon of hope and a source of positivity. 
Here is why: the Temple was erected in honor of the virgin goddess and patron of the city, Athena. Athena was heralded as the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, wits and craftsmanship, and her divine powers adapted to the situation of the times. For that reason, the Temple of Athena Nike was characteristically decorated by a statue of the goddess in all her war-like glory, brandishing a shield and long spear, and holding in her hand the lesser goddess Nike, which is the greek word for "victory". The temple is also called "Temple of Apteros Nike", meaning the temple of Wingless Victory. Traditionally, the goddess Nike was depicted as a winged being, and so, by "cutting off" her wings, the Athenians were hoping to keep victory within the city, meaning that they hoped to continue prevailing in the Peloponnesian War. 
Sadly, for all their religious fervor, the Athenians did not manage to keep the city safe. The major enemy city, Sparta, won the Peloponnesian War, leading to the extreme humiliation of the Athenians, and the decline of Greece, after it had reached its "Golden Age". The Temple was destroyed by the Turks near the end of the 17th century AD, and was excavated and reconstructed by German archaeologists during the first half of the 19th century.

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Temple of Athena Nike

You are now standing in front of the Propylaea, the Gates of the Acropolis. The word comes from the Greek word "propylaeon", and the Latin "propylaeum". It literally translates to the "pre-gate", however, it is generally accepted and recognized as the actual gateway to the Acropolis. 
As with the rest of the Acropolis monuments, construction of the Propylaea was commissioned during the 5th century BC by the renowned Athenian leader Pericles, during a period of reconstruction of Athens after the Persian Wars, in an effort for the city to reclaim its past prestige and glory. It is somewhat unclear which architect took up the design of the gateway, since, on one hand, Phidias was in charge of most of the buildings of the Acropolis, but historical sources, more accurately Plutarch, claim that it was an architect named Mnesicles who designed the Propylaea. It took about five years for the construction to end, and still the building was left somewhat unfinished, due to the outbreak of the Peloponnesian war. 
Predominantly Doric in its structural style, the gateway had two facades, one for the eastern side of the building and one for the western side, and five entrances in total, one of them used for the mystic cult of the Eleusinian mysteries, creating a Sacred Way from the area of Eleusis (or Eleusina, as it is known today), to the Acropolis. The entrances were also a way to "filter" those who sook to enter the Acropolis. Ritually unclean and unprepared individuals, as well as runaway slaves or other criminals, who ran to the Acropolis in order to enter the temples and beg for protection from the gods, were not permitted entrance. In Antiquity it was common for someone accused, convicted and facing imminent penalty to seek refuge below the altar of a god/goddess, since it was hubris (meaning blasphemy) to commit a violent act of any kind within a sacred place such as a divine altar. 
The propylaea as a structure remained relatively intact through the different historical periods, attacks, invasions and pillages. It served as a palace during the middle ages and received some damage due to a gunpowder explosion in the 17th century AD. Today it remains restored and standing tall, looming over the visitors of the monuments and preparing them for the magnificence of the Parthenon.

Propylaea

You have reached The Parthenon, the milestone of your tour. This is the most important cultural monument left over from the Classical period of Greek antiquity, causing awe and admiration around the globe to this very day. Although described as a temple, the Parthenon wasn't used as such in the traditional sense. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, hence its name. Athena Parthenos was one of the forms and characterizations attributed to the patron goddess of the city, who took pride in her virginity. Not only that, but a "parthenon" was the room were unmarried women would gather. Combining these two interpretations, the Parthenon most likely means "the place of the virgin goddess". The Parthenon is a very large structure, and for good reason. For within the main room of the temple, a massive statue of Athena stood, made of ivory and gilded with gold plates of extreme value. 
However, the statue's presence in the temple had no religious purpose, since the temple housed no priestesses or cults. The cult statue of the goddess was located elsewhere in the Acropolis, meaning that the ivory and gold statue was used for aesthetic purposes, as well as, mainly, a gold reserve. Pericles himself had stated that the gold on the statue was removable and reusable in times of need, a statement that reflects the political circumstances of the time. 
The Parthenon was built in the mid-5th century BC, when Athens was the apex of Ancient Greece, and the Delian Alliance was blossoming. The Delian Alliance was a union between Greek cities, for protection and fortification through unity, being led by Athens. Each ally city had to pay tribute to the Athenians, tribute which was either kept in the Acropolis, in a place functioning as a treasury, or was used to draw funds to finance the building of the Parthenon. Unfortunately, Athens got too arrogant. The Delian Alliance became the Athenian Empire, and Athens became violent toward the cities who wished to remove themselves from the union, thus placing the foundations for the sparking of the Peloponnesian War. 
The architects in charge of constructing and designing the Parthenon and the statue were many, the ones known being Phidias, Callicrates, Ictinus and Mnesicles. The temple is exceptional in its making, not only due to the combination of Doric and Ionian architectural style, but also because of the different architectural "tricks" used to promote symmetry and aesthetic balance, such as the slight curving of the roof, or the gradual inversion of the columns along the length of the building. 
As the years passed, the Parthenon was turned, unsurprisingly, into a church during the Byzantine age, and a mosque, during the Ottoman occupation. In the early 19th century, the Earl of Elgin, having gotten permission from the Ottoman Empire, took certain parts of the temple, sculptures that are now called the Elgin Marbles. Ever since, an ongoing campaign has been launched to bring the marbles home, from the museum of London to their rightful place.

Parthenon

After the Parthenon, on the northern side of the Acropolis, you can see what is probably the most interestingly made building on the hill. This is the Erechtheion, housing the Porch of the Maidens. If you remember, at the beginning of the tour, we spoke of the mythical contest between Poseidon and Athena, fighting over who would be the patron and divine "owner" of the city, with Athena having been decided as the winner. However, after the contest, the Athenians wished to reach a compromise between the gods and also protect the city from Poseidon's possible wrath. And so, it was decided that the Erechtheion would be built, as a temple dedicated to both gods. 
Described as "a masterpiece of creations made in the Ionian style", construction for the Erechtheion began during the latter part of the 5th century BC. The architect and sculptor in charge were most probably Mnesicles, about whom so little is known, and Phidias, who also took up work in the Parthenon, under Pericles' request. 
The origin of the temple's name is somewhat unclear, with two historical figures fighting for the credit. Some sources claim that it was named after the ancient Athenian king Erechtheus, who was supposedly buried nearby, and was the founder of the city, in its early stages, and also somehow related to Poseidon. Others trace the origin back to the myth of Erichthonius, another ancient king. According to mythology, Hephaestus once chased Athena in a fit of passion, seeking to rape her. In the struggle, his seed fell on her thigh, and in disgust, she wiped it with a woolen cloth and tossed it to the ground. Thus Erichthonius was born from the earth, as his name implies. 
Adjacent to the Erechtheion is the Porch of the Maidens. You can clearly see were the name comes from, as you face the statues of the Caryatids. Five pedestals are filled, and one remains empty, the last Caryatid having been one of the sculptures that Lord Elgin took back to London with him, in the 19th century. Each Caryatid is separate in its design, from their dresses to their hairstyles and other details. 
The most interesting thing about the Erechtheion was its religious purposes. Inside ere kept relics and artefacts dedicated to Athena and Poseidon, such as wooden effigies, Poseidon's trident marks and saltwater well, the sacred olive tree that Athena created, burial sites of mythical kings, and many more. In the eastern side, which was wholly dedicated to Athena, protector of the city, it was rumored that her sacred snake dwelled. The priestesses would feed the snake honey cakes, and if the snake refused to eat, it was interpreted as an omen of destruction. 
The Erechtheion underwent serious damage with the passing of time and the restoration process was very tedious, risky, and at times counter-productive. However, in the end the temple withstood everything, and is now standing atop the hill, along with the rest of the monuments, to remind us of ancient and mystical times.

Erechtheion

You have probably heard many times how Ancient Greece gave birth to theater and the art of Drama, among other cultural treasures and Arts. And this theater is the cradle from which the art of the stage sprung to life. 
It is not clearly known who built the Theater. It has traces of being older than the 5th century BC, and was definitely around by the 6th century BC, under the reign of the dynasty initiated by the tyrant Peisistratus. Initially, performances took place in the Agora, but at some point the festivals were moved to the Theater, which was expanded and built upon accordingly. The festivals, as well as the theater itself and the surrounding area, were dedicated to the god Dionysus and his cult, more accurately the cult of Dionysus. 
Dionysus is a notorious god among the Ancient Greek Pantheon. As a deity, he is very old, and his origin is attributed to different origins. He is the god of the harvest, of grapes and wine, of feasts, fertility, ritualistic fervor and ecstasy, even the god of debauchery. He was the last god to have been accepted into Mt. Olympus. His name, Dionysus Eleuthereus, also translates as Dionysus The Liberator, meaning that through the ecstasy and wine, he liberates mortals from moral and social oppression. His followers were the satyrs and maenads, unhinged and frantic. He had his own mystical cult, by which the Dionysian Mysteries were conducted. Dionysus is also seen as the protector of the unconventional members of society, the ones that can be marginalized and more "rebellious" than the rest. 
As the patron god of drama, Dionysus was the god to whom the artistic festivals were dedicated. The grandest of them all were the Dionysia, which were separated into the Rural Dionysia and the City Dionysia. The theater housed the City Dionysia, and each year its stage lit up with the plays and performances of tragic and comic stories. Some of the most notable ancient drama playwrights presented their works at the Dionysia, since it wasn't just an institution with entertainment as its purpose, but also a competition between creators and actors, ergo a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to get recognized and for their talent to be honored. Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus, Aristophanes; all of them competed at the Dionysia, all of them vying for the prize, a monument called a tripod, to be placed amongst the other honored creators on the street of tripods. 
The theater withstood several remodeling and the passage of time, and was finally excavated and begun to undergo the restoration process during the 19th century. Today, the theater may no longer be used for performances and festival, but its past prestige lingers on, echoing the birth of an Art back to us, a link to the past.

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Theatre of Dionysus

This temple is special due to the length it took for it to finally be completed, as well as due to its size. It was completed more than six hundred years after it was commissioned as a project, and it is known to be one of the largest scale temples and monuments in the world. 
As the name makes evident, the temple was dedicated to Zeus, Father of Gods and Men, King of the Gods, Ruler of Mount Olympus. He is the god of sky and thunder. As the myth teaches us, Zeus was the only one of his siblings to have been rescued by their father's, Cronus', murderous ways. Fearing a prophecy that foretold he would be over thrown by his child, Cronus proceeded to swallow all his children as they were born. Like we said earlier, gods and good parenting? Just not possible. Zeus' mother, however, tricked Cronus, and hid the baby in a cave in the island of Crete. Zeus then avenged his siblings and killed his father, thus fulfilling the prophecy. 
Zeus is also seen as the god of hospitality, called "Zeus of the foreigners", their protector. He is known for his cleverness and quick wit, as well as his inventive nature, especially when facing a conflict or a challenge. His power over gods and men is absolute. His wife is Hera, although it is known that Zeus is more than prone to commit infidelities, something that more often than not, causes Hera's rage, a rage that his mistresses end up paying for. He has fathered many heroes, gods, and demi-gods. 
His Temple had begun being built during the 6th century BC, as the dynasty of the tyrant Peisistratus ruled Athens. His sons sought to build a temple matching that of Artemis' (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), in scale and grandeur. When the tyranny was overthrown, however, construction stopped. In the years that followed, even though Athens was developing, the Athenians decided not to continue construction of the temple, believing that a temple that large and that luxurious would be hubris. During the 2nd century BC, a Seleucid king ordered construction to resume, only for the temple to be severely damage a century later, when the Roman Sullas sacked the city. He decided to disassemble parts of the temple, so they would be used in the building of a temple dedicated to Jupiter (the Roman equivalent of Zeus, which is quite ironic). 
The temple was finally completed in the second century AD, thanks to the Roman emperor Hadrian. In the inner room of the temple, he had a large chryselephantine statue of Zeus erected, and right next to it, a statue of himself, similar in size. 
The temple was, sadly, severely damaged, as were most monuments, a while later during the 3rd century AD, once again, by the Heruli invasion. In the following centuries, it as systematically damaged, destroyed, or disassembled, so that today, out of the hundred or so columns that stood in the site, only fifteen remain, with another one having fallen to the ground during a storm in the 1800's. The ones that do remain, however, are quite exquisite in their beauty and grace.

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Temple of Olympian Zeus

You probably know a lot about Hadrian's love of all things Greek, and his impact on Ancient Greek structural development during the Roman years by now. However, opinions collide on whether the Arch was commissioned by Hadrian himself, or if the Athenians or a group called Panhellenes erected the Arch in Hadrian's honor, to celebrate his arrival in Athens, in the early 2nd century AD. The latter seems more likely, according to historians and archaeologists. 
The Arch was made of Pentelic marble, its columns designed in the Corinthian style, giving it a distinct grace and beauty. That is owed to the ornate nature of the Corinthian style, containing elaborate carvings of scrolls or leaves, and fluted columns. A fluted column is one with small, shallow grooves running along its length. 
On the Arch there are two inscriptions, which have created a lot of speculation as to how they can be interpreted. On one side of the Arch, the inscription says "this is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus". On the other side, the inscription reads: "This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus". 
Theseus was the mythical king and founder of Athens, son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea. Theseus completed many heroic acts, slaying monsters and fighting for what was right and just, and was the one to slay the Minotaur that dwelled in the depths of the labyrinth that King Minos of Crete had built. Legend has it that Theseus escaped the Labyrinth with the help of princess Ariadne, who gave him a ball of yarn to mark his way. Having to leave Ariadne behind upon returning to Athens, Theseus, in his distress, forgot to lift up the white sails that would signal he was alive, as his father, King Aegeas had asked him, and raised the black sails, which meant he had died. In this confusion and misunderstanding, the grieving Aegeas committed suicide by throwing himself into the sea. This was how the Aegean sea got its name. 
Some say the inscriptions indicated the division of the city into the ancient, Greek part, and the newer, Roman part. Others claim it was simply a way to consolidate Hadrian's dominion as Emperor. No matter what, it will always remain a landmark and a reminder of one of the more beloved and peaceful Roman Emperors to have ever ruled Athens.

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Arch of Hadrian

You are now walking through the National Gardens of Athens. Αs you enjoy your walk, you should also be aware that you are within the vicinity of the Zappeion Mansion. The Mansion is one of the most important and prestigious landmarks in contemporary Greek history, used to this day for various events, such as expositions, ceremonies, conferences and exhibitions. 
Unlike most of the sites you have encountered so far, the mansion is not a relic of the Ancient years. It was actually commissioned and built during the 19th century, though its gate was decorated with elements borrowed from the Corinthian architectural order. However, the building's architecture follows the Neoclassical style. The history of the Zappeion begins in 1869. In an effort to rekindle the tradition of the Olympic Games, the Greek government commissioned the Mansion's construction, along with other works. The Danish architect Theophil Hansen was put in charge of the project, and funding was provided by tycoon Evangelos Zappas, whose name was given to the building in his honor. 
Unfortunately, Zappas died before witnessing the project's completion. His statue now stands outside the mansion, and it is said that his head is buried beneath it (we know, it is quite creepy). Zappas was a great businessman with Romanian roots, who made his fortune after the Greek War of Independence, in which he participated to a great extent. His love of Greece made him a great benefactor, having built schools and several institutions in his mother country. 
He is hailed as the man who revived the Olympic Games and brought them back to Greece starting in 1859, even leaving a large part of his inheritance to fund future games. It is safe to say that without him, the Olympic Games tradition would not have reached Greece for a long time.

Zappeion Mansion

Your tour is almost done! After having had a refreshing walk across the National Gardens, you are now face-to-face with the Old Palace of the royal family. However, the regal character of the building has been lost throughout history. It has been housing the Greek parliament ever since 1929. The Old Palace is a hallmark of Greek history, contemporary history. 
As you recall, after Greece was named a Kingdom by the Great Powers, King Otto and Queen Amalia were named as Greece's rulers. It was obvious that the royal couple would need a place to stay, and so, after several proposals from several different architects, it was decided that the palace would be built across from Syntagma Square. The founding stone was placed on February 6th, 1836. It took eleven years for the building to finish construction, which was funded by King Ludwig I of Bavaria, as a personal loan to Otto. 
The architect decided to design an austere, compact building, that respected and presented the heritage of ancient Athens, while at the same time keeping in pace with the social ideas of the time. Of course, the interior of the palace was far more luxurious, with several spaces such as a dining room, the Throne Room, the trophy room, the game room and of course the private chambers of the royal family. Unfortunately, throughout the years and the damages that the building undertook, much of the interior decoration was lost. 
After Otto was expelled from Greece and took Amalia with him in 1862, the new King, George I, arrived in Athens and took up residence in the palace with Queen Olga of Russia. That caused new renovations and changes in the structure, the most important of which was the erection of an orthodox chapel. After King George was assassinated, the crown prince, Constantine, continued living in his own residence and Queen Olga, as well as several other members of the royal family, kept staying in the Old Palace until 1922. 
1922 was the year that the palace was permanently and officially abandoned by the Royal Family, as the regime in Greece was changing from monarchy to a republic. As the regime changed, so did the building's function. After 1922, public bodies, private charities and international organizations were housed in the building and conducted their activities until November of 1929, where the government decided to relocate the Parliament, and house it in the Old Palace building. 
After that decision, the palace underwent even more changes in order to accommodate the parliamentary body. One of the biggest changes in the building was a northern entrance in its exterior. The Hellenic Parliament has been housed in the building ever since. Since 1975, which marked the restoration of democracy and the introduction of the new constitution, the modernization of the building continues, aiming to create a fully functional space, optimized throughout technology and upgraded equipment. 
Surrounding the Palace are plenty of statues and monuments, commemorating important hallmarks of Greek history, such as the monument of the Battle of the Pindos, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the statues of Charilaos Trikoupis and Eleutherios Venizelos, both of whom were great political leaders, and many others.

Greek Parliament

The final stop of your tour may be less grandiose and more somber than the rest, but you might find a solemn and melancholy sort of beauty in it. You have reached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 
Such a monument is not confined in Greece alone. Countries have a practice of creating similar monuments, a practice that became popular, and deemed necessary, after the end of World War I. The monument is erected in many countries in order to honor all the fallen soldiers in wars and battles, whose self sacrifice and name were never known, and never would be. 
In Greece, the idea of creating an Unknown Soldier monument was first introduced a few decades after the Greek War of Independence, but the project was fully realized by the 1930's. The architect in charge was Manolis Lazaridis. As you can see, it is a relatively simple and modest monument. It is characteristically shaped like the greek letter "Pi", with an empty tomb at the center and a sculpture on the wall, showing the ancient, yet somehow diachronic form of a dying soldier. 
On each side of the sculpture ancient quotes have been inscribed, both taken from Pericles'"Funeral Oration", as has been transferred to us from the works of famous greek historian Thucydides. The funeral oration was part of an annual ceremony in honor of those who had fallen in battle, in the years of the Peloponnesian War. The quotes roughly translate to: "An empty bed is carried for the unknown", and "For the exceptional men, the entire earth is a tomb". Further inscriptions indicate all the major battles were the Greek Army fought, such as the two World Wars, the Balkan Wars, and the Asia Minor operations. 
The monument has an honorary guard, a special division of the Guard for the President of Democracy. The division was eventually named "Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". Perhaps you can see the guard changing right now! 
Thus, you have reached the end of your tour over Athens. We hope you enjoyed it, and gained lots of valuable knowledge through the experience. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your time in Greece!

Tomb of The Unkown Soldier

Athens, the city of ancient glory and the once cultural center of the world. One of the most sought-after destinations for tourists and native Greeks alike. The roads in the historical areas of Athens are specifically designed for pedestrians. This tour follows the pedestrian routes, and guides you though all the major attractions of the city. Put on your sneakers, grab a water bottle and prepare yourselves for the magnificent temples of the ancient gods, the Acropolis, the awe-inspiring Parthenon, and the remnants of the Roman years.

N.B. Keep in mind that you will need to pay the entrance fee to visit the attractions of Acropolis:&nbsp;Odeon of Herodes Atticus,&nbsp;Temple of Athena Nike,&nbsp;Propylaea,&nbsp;Parthenon,&nbsp;Erechtheion and&nbsp;Theatre of Dionysus.&nbsp;

Tour Over Athens

Athens

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Athens

Tour Over Athens

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