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Gate of Athena Archegetis

Julius CaesarLandmarks in AthensRoman Athens
Πύλη Αρχαίας Ρωμαϊκής Αγοράς, Αθήνα 6186
Πύλη Αρχαίας Ρωμαϊκής Αγοράς, Αθήνα 6186

The Gate of Athena Archegetis is situated west side of the Roman Agora, in Athens and considered to be the second most prominent remain in the site after the Tower of the Winds. Constructed in 11 BCE by donations from Julius Caesar and Augustus, the gate was made of an architrave standing on four Doric columns and a base, all of Pentelic marble. A dedicatory inscription offers an insight into the time and circumstances of the monument's construction: O ΔΗΜOΣ ΑΠO ΤΩΝ ΔOΘΕΙΣΩΝ ΔΩΡΕΩΝ ΥΠO ΓΑΙOΥ ΙOΥΛΙOΥ ΚΑΙΣΑΡOΣ ΘΕOΥ/ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤOΚΡΑΤOΡOΣ ΘΕOΥ ΥΙOΥ ΣΕΒΑΣΤOΥ/ ΑΘΗΝΑ ΑΡΧΗΓΕΤΙΔΙ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓOΥΝΤOΣ ΕΠΙ ΤOΥΣ OΠΛΙΤΑΣ ΕΥΚΛΕOΥΣ ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΙOΥ/ ΤOΥ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑΔΕΞΑΜΕΝOΥ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΙΜΕΛΕΙΑΝ ΥΠΕΡ ΤOΥ ΠΑΤΡOΣ ΗΡΩΔOΥ ΤOΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΕΣΒΕΥΣΑΝΤOΣ/ ΕΠΙ ΑΡΧOΝΤOΣ ΝΙΚΙOΥ ΤOΥ ΣΑΡΑΠΙΩΝOΣ ΑΘΜOΝΕΩΣ (IG II3 4 12) (The People of Athens from the donations offered by Gaius Julius Caesar the God and the Reverend Emperor son of God To Athena Archegetis, on behalf of the soldiers of Eukles from Marathon, who curated it on behalf of his father Herod and who was also an ambassador under the archon Nicias, son of Sarapion, from the demos of Athmonon) It was a monument dedicated by the Athenians to their patroness Athena Archegetis.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Gate of Athena Archegetis (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Gate of Athena Archegetis
Panos, Athens

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N 37.9746 ° E 23.7255 °
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Ρωμαϊκή Αγορά Αθηνών

Panos
105 55 Athens (1st District of Athens)
Attica, Greece
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Πύλη Αρχαίας Ρωμαϊκής Αγοράς, Αθήνα 6186
Πύλη Αρχαίας Ρωμαϊκής Αγοράς, Αθήνα 6186
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Eleusinion

Eleusinion was a sanctuary in Athens, Greece, dedicated to Demeter and Kore (Persephone). The temple was built in the early 5th-century BC. It was located at the base of the Acropolis. Below it was a spring called Enneakrounos (Nine Jets). The building had a size of around 11 x 18m. It contained statues of Demeter and Kore as well as of Iakkhos, a leader of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Close by was another temple of Triptolemus. The Eleusinion played an important role in the Panathenaic festival. It is known as the place where all sacred objects associated with the Eleusinian Mysteries were kept between ceremonies. It was also there preparations was made for the sacred processions of the Mysteries. Pausanias describe the sanctuary in the 2nd century: The Athenians have ... another [harbour] at Phaleron, as I have already stated, and near it is a sanctuary of Demeter." [...] On entering the city [of Athens] there is a building for the preparation of the processions, which are held in some cases every year, in others at longer intervals. Hard by is a temple of Demeter, with images of the goddess herself and of her daughter [Kore], and of Iakkhos [daimon leader of the Eleusinaian Mysteries] holding a torch. [...] [In Athens] is a spring called Enneakrounos (Nine Jets) ... Above the spring are two temples, one to Demeter and Kore (the Maid), while in that of Triptolemos is a statue of him ... After I had intended to go further into this story [of Triptolemos and Demeter], and to describe the contents of the sanctuary at Athens, called the Eleusinion, I was stayed by a vision in a dream. I shall therefore turn to those things it is lawful to write of to all men. In front of this temple, where is also the statue of Triptolemos, is a bronze bull being led as it were to sacrifice. [...] [Near the Akropolis of Athens] there is also a sanctuary of Ge Kourotrophe (Earth Nurse of Youth), and of Demeter Khloe (Green). You can learn all about their names by conversing with the priests.The sanctuary was closed in the 4th-century during the persecution of pagans in the late Roman Empire. Few excavations has been made of it.