Hadrian's Library

{{Short description|Roman library in Athens, Greece}}

{{Infobox ancient site

|name = Hadrian's Library

|native_name = Βιβλιοθήκη του Αδριανού

|alternate_name =

|image = 260px

|alt = West wall of the Library of Hadrian

|caption = West wall of the Library of Hadrian

|map_type = Greece Athens central

|map_caption =

|map_alt =

|location = Greece

|region = Athens

|coordinates = {{Coord|37.9755555556|N|23.7261111111|E|source:dewiki_region:GR-A1_type:landmark_scale:500|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|type = Library

|part_of =

|length =

|width =

|area =

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|builder =

|material = Marble

|built = 132 AD

|abandoned =

|epochs = Classical era

|cultures = Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome

|dependency_of =

|occupants = Emperor Hadrian

|event =

|excavations =

|archaeologists =

|condition =

|ownership = Public property

|management = Minister for Culture

|public_access = {{ric|Athens Metro}} {{ric|Athens Metro|M2}} {{ric|Athens Metro|M3}} Monastiraki station

|website =

|notes =

}}

Hadrian's Library was a monumental building created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.{{cite book|last=Choremi-Spetsieri|first=A.|title=The Library of Hadrian at Athens: Recent Finds|publisher=Ostraka 4|pages=137–147}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stoa.org/athens/sites/libraryofhadrian.html|title=The Library of Hadrian|publisher=The Stoa Consortium|access-date=2009-02-19}}

The main entrance to the library was part of the Stoa of Hadrian with columns of Karystian marble and Pentelic capitals.Sisson MA. The Stoa of Hadrian at Athens. Papers of the British School at Rome. 1929;11:50-72. doi:10.1017/S0068246200011740

The building followed a Roman forum architectural style, having only one entrance with a propylon of Corinthian order, a high surrounding wall with protruding niches (oikoi, exedrae) at its long sides, an inner courtyard surrounded by columns and a decorative oblong pool in the middle.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetware.com/athens/library-of-hadrian-closed-temporarily-gr-ath-libha.htm|title=Library of Hadrian Description|publisher=PlanetWare|access-date=2009-02-19}} The library was on the eastern side where rolls of papyrus "books" were kept. Adjoining halls were used as reading rooms, and the corners served as lecture halls.

The library was seriously damaged by the Herulian invasion of 267 and repaired by the prefect Herculius in 407–412.{{cite web|url=http://www.greece-athens.com/page.php?page_id=271|title=Hadrian's Library |publisher=Athens City Guide|access-date=2009-02-19}}

The library was later incorporated into the Roman city walls.

During Byzantine times, three churches were built at the site, the remains of which are preserved:

• a tetraconch (5th century)
• a three-aisled basilica (7th century), and
• a simple cathedral (12th century), which was the first cathedral of the city, known as Megali Panagia.

Around the same period as the cathedral another church, Agios Asomatos sta Skalia, was built against the north facade, but it is not preserved. A colossal statue of the goddess Nike/Victoria is exhibited on the site, excavated in the Library in 1988.{{cite book | publisher = Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development | first = Dimitris | date = 2019 | last = Sourlas | title = The Library of Hadrian (brochure) | translator = D. Brown-Kazazis | url = https://etickets.tap.gr/webengines/images/places/000000006/the_library_of_hadrian_en.pdf}}

File:Library of Hadrian (Athens) - Model in Colosseum - 1.jpg|Library of Hadrian – Model in Colosseum

File:Βιβλιοθήκη Αδριανού 7983.JPG|View from south: the tetraconch in the courtyard

File:Stone inscription inside the Library of Hadrian honouring Hadrian, Athens, Greece (13891392542).jpg|Stone inscription inside the library honouring Hadrian

File:Athens - Library of Hadrian - sculpture 01.jpg|Relief fragment of a Gorgoneion. Museum at Hadrian's Library. 2nd century

File:The backside of the facade of Hadrian's Library in Athens.jpg|The rear of the facade