{"id":12773,"date":"2023-04-06T12:44:55","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T12:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/hadrians-library-athens\/"},"modified":"2024-07-16T08:18:13","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T08:18:13","slug":"hadrians-library-athens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/hadrians-library-athens\/","title":{"rendered":"Hadrian’s Library in Athens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Let’s be clear from the start: Hadrian’s Library is not the most memorable archaeological site in Greece. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it’s worth visiting if you have some spare time, especially since it’s included in the combined ticket that grants access to the Acropolis<\/a>. So why not check it out? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 Hot Tips \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca4 Accommodations:<\/strong> Top hotels offering great value for your money<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfdb Must-See Sites & Monuments:<\/strong> Your ultimate guide to Athens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc76 Visiting Athens with Kids:<\/strong> Our best tips and tricks<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A brief history of Hadrian’s Library in Athens<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Located just a stone’s throw from the Roman Agora and the Ancient Agora (not to be confused!), Hadrian’s Library was once a vast building measuring about 122 meters by 82, and housing no less than 20,000 rolls of papyrus! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It owes its name to Roman emperor Hadrian, who financed its construction in 132 AD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The library featured a large reading room, a garden, an inner courtyard, and many rooms where the rolls were stored. It served not only as a library but also as a gathering place for intellectuals of the time who met there to debate and discuss various topics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The preserved manuscripts came from all corners of the Greek world and included works of philosophy, science, poetry, history, and literature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Badly damaged during the Herulian invasion of Athens in 267 AD, Hadrian’s Library was rebuilt in the early 5th<\/sup> century, but it was short-lived, and the Visigoths destroyed it again a few years later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Byzantine period, the library was transformed into a church and dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Over the centuries, the building underwent several renovations and served various purposes, including being used as a mosque during the Ottoman period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The site was forgotten and remained undiscovered until 1885, when it was rediscovered by archaeologists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Visiting Hadrian’s Library <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Hadrian’s Library cannot compete with the grandeur of the Acropolis or the Ancient Agora, it’s still worth a visit if you have some time on your hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can see some Corinthian columns, a large marble wall supported by columns, as well as the remains of three churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to Hadrian’s Library<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Hadrian’s Library is located in the Monastiraki district<\/a>, in the center of Athens, near the Ancient Agora<\/a>. You can easily reach it by public transport: <\/p>\n\n\n\n