Hadrian's Library in Athens

Hadrian’s Library (Βιβλιοθήκη του Αδριανού; Hadrian’s Library) is located north of the Acropolis in Athens. It was commissioned by Roman Emperor Hadrian (Ἁδριανός; Hadrian) in 132 AD as a tribute to the Athenian culture he admired. The library is rectangular in shape, covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, and is surrounded by high walls. At its center lies a large courtyard, which was once encircled by colonnades. The remnants of the courtyard’s pool and garden are still visible today, although the colonnades have long since collapsed, leaving only ruins. Hadrian’s Library suffered significant damage in 267 AD but was later restored between 407 and 412 AD, with parts of it converted into an early Christian church. During the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, the building served various purposes, including as an administrative center, marketplace, and mosque. Some of its original structures were dismantled during these renovations. More than just a repository for books, Hadrian’s Library functioned as a multifunctional public cultural center, combining reading, learning, lectures, and social activities—similar to a modern university.