Hadrian's Library was a significant cultural institution in ancient Athens, reflecting the city's importance as a center of learning during the Roman period. Constructed under the reign of Emperor Hadrian, the library was part of a larger architectural program aimed at revitalizing Athens and reinforcing its status in the Roman Empire. The library housed an extensive collection of scrolls and manuscripts, which facilitated scholarly research and study, attracting philosophers, poets, and other intellectuals from across the empire .

The architectural layout of Hadrian's Library featured a grand entrance and a spacious courtyard surrounded by a colonnade. This design not only provided a tranquil environment for study but also allowed for social interactions among scholars. The library was adorned with numerous statues and decorative elements that celebrated the cultural heritage of Greece, showcasing Hadrian's admiration for Athenian art and philosophy . The site is located near the Roman Agora, emphasizing its role in the cultural landscape of ancient Athens and its connection to other significant civic spaces.

circa 135 CE

Remains of the Western Wall
The remains of the western wall of Hadrian's Library, located in Athens, present a striking example of Roman architecture and the library's original grandeur. The western façade featured a propylon, or monumental entrance, adorned with Corinthian columns, which once provided an impressive entryway to the complex. This façade is characterized by its sturdy construction and high walls, which, although now partially ruined, still showcase the library's imposing scale.

circa 135 CE

Auditoria
The two corner halls of the eastern side of the monument were small, somewhat sloping auditoria, used for lectures and text readings. These chambers had marble seating and prohedriae (seats of honour) of a slightly curved form. The appriach to the seats was via two staircases, along the long walls. The floor was made of marble, with diagonal quadrangular slabs of coloured luxurious marble, while marble revetments decorated the walls of the halls as well. The north auditorium is full visible today, however, most of the south auditorium is still buried deep underneath the modern Adrianou street and the building at the corner of Aiolou and Adrianou streets.

circa 135 CE

Eastern Bibliostasio
The main room of the library, the one that Pausanias called oikimata, was situated in the eastern flank of the peribolos. It had five large halls and four smaller chambers for secondary use. THe main hall, the bibliostasio, was rectangular in plan and its west side opened on to the inner peristyle of the monument through five large openings. It had a tall, continuous podium on the other three sides on which stood a colonnade of at least two storeys that supported a series of passageways. The walls on each storey had niches with wooden cupboards in which the books were stored. The total number of niches was 40, 16 niches in the eastern wall and 12 niches in the side walls. An estimate of the dimensions of the papyri gives and approximate number of 16,800 books stored in the library. The wides, arched niches on the main axis of the eastern wall on both storeys probably housed statues of Athena and the deified emperor. The walls of the hall were decorated with marble revetments, while coloured marble slabs covered the floor. The two halls at the left and the right of the bibliostasio were probably subsidiary rooms used for reading and transcription. While the smaller rooms at the back served as staircases for the upper floor.

circa 407-412 CE

Tetraconch Church of Megali Panagia
The Tetraconch Church of Megali Panagia, situated within the archaeological site of Hadrian's Library in Athens, is a significant structure known for its unique architectural design. Originally constructed in the 5th century, it underwent several reconstructions, with notable phases in the 7th and 11th centuries, reflecting the evolving religious and architectural landscape of the region. As a tetraconch church, it features a quatrefoil layout, which was characteristic of early Christian basilicas. This church is considered one of the oldest Christian churches in Athens and serves as a crucial testament to the city’s transition from classical antiquity to early Christianity.

Archaeological remains of the church include distinct elements such as a large apse and several column bases, which provide insights into the architectural techniques employed during its various construction phases. The church’s location within the remnants of Hadrian’s Library emphasizes the interplay between ancient civic life and early Christian worship in Athens. The site itself illustrates the layering of history, as it incorporates not only the remains of Hadrian's monumental library but also early Christian structures, highlighting the continuous use and adaptation of urban spaces throughout the centuries.

circa 1150 CE

Church of Saint Asomato (Sta Skalia)
The small church in the domed concised crosstype with the apse (inspect) at the north side was built by the noble family Chalkokondyli in the twelfth century CE and was subsequently renovated in 1576 CE by Michael Chalkokondyli. It was named Saint Asomato because it was devoted to Archangel Michael by its synonymous founder, while because of its position at the Hadrian Library's pro-pylon was named "sta Skalia" (literally meaning on the stairs). At the beginning of the eighteenth century CE the narthex fell into disuse and after 1843 CE the church was demolished. On the floor of the main temple as well as in the narthex there were eleven cist and vaulted graved were excavated. These graves belonged to the Chalkokondyli family. The only visible remains of the church surviving today are the traces of a wall and the frescoes on the library's facade, which represent the scene of "the prayer in Gethsemane", "the treachery of Judas" and busts of Saints.