Greece: Hadrian's Athens - Europe Up Close Europe Up Close Travel Health and Safety Greece: Hadrian’s Athens Published/Revised May 13, 2016 By W. Ruth Kozak This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info. Share The Roman Emperor Hadrian is best known for building Hadrian’s Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. He also rebuilt the Parthenon and constructed the Temple of Venus in Rome. In addition to these contributions to Rome, Hadrian built several important structures in the city of Athens. Hadrian was an ardent philhellene and lived for several years in Greece. He was archon of Athens from 125 – 129 AD and during that time he adorned the city with several imperial buildings. You’ll pass by them when you are touring around Plaka. Hadrian loved literature, both Roman and Greek. He wrote poetry and was familiar with the Greek philosophers. And, he built a distinguished library in Athens that stands today. You’ll find it at the corner of Eolou and Adrianou Streets in Plaka. There was a large colonnaded court with semi-circular recesses in the walls.

Part of the west entrance had Corinthian columns that still stand. The central room was the library with niches for bookshelves. The courtyard was laid out as a garden with a central pool. I love to stop by Hadrian’s Library whenever I’m strolling around Plaka, then sit in the tavern by the Eolou Street side and enjoy an ice-cold frappe under the shade trees before wandering over to the Roman Forum. Hadrian’s library Rome had occupied Greece from 146 BC and by the first century AD, Greece had become a favorite holiday destination for wealthy Romans and a place of exile for troublemakers. The Athenian agora had a new Roman odeon, a covered theatre that seated 1000 people. There’s a bust of Hadrian in the Greek agora, on the west side near the Temple of Hephaestion. It’s a headless torso, but don’t try posing with it or the agora guards will chase you off! Hadrian’s Torso Agora The entrance to the Roman Forum, which was built during the reign of Julius Caesar, is the Gate of Athena Archegetis. It marks the street leading from the Greek agora.

On the side facing the Acropolis there is an engraved edict of Hadrian’s outlining rules and taxes for the sale of oil. I like to wander about in the Roman Forum. The most intriguing of the ruins is the Tower of the Winds which predates the forum, designed by the Syrian astronomer Andronikos of Kyrrhos in the 1st century BC. It served as a compass, sundial, weather vane and water clock. Each face of the tower is adorned with a relief of a figure floating through air personifying the eight winds. Just below the Tower of Winds are the public latrines which I always find amusing. At the east end of the forum is an Ionic propylea dating from the reign of Hadrian. It was surrounded by colonnades which opened to shops and offices. During the Turkish period, a mosque was built on the north side that now serves as an archaeological storage room. Tower of Winds Probably the most distinctive piece of Hadrian memorabilia is near the busy road junction of Amalias and Syngrou Streets just outside of Plaka where the majestic Arch of Hadrian stands.

It was erected by Hadrian to mark the limits of the ancient city and the beginning of Novae Athenae or Hadrianopolis, as it was called. The inscription on the south east side, facing the Acropolis, reads “This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus”. On the northwest side, toward the tall pillars of the Olympieion, it reads “This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus.” The arch was adorned with Corinthian columns but only the bases remain. Roman Forum with the Tower of Winds In the area that was Hadrianopolis there are still some Roman remains but the most significant sight are the towering pillars of what is left of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. Various rules had worked on the building over a span of more than five centuries but it was Hadrian who ensured the job was finished and it was he who had it dedicated. The Olympieion, as it is known, is the largest temple in Greece. The Temple originally had 104 columns but only 13 remain.

Hadrian dedicated it on his second visit to Athens in AD 130 and set up a chryselephantine statue of Zeus within the cella as well as a colossal statue of himself. I’ve often spent the afternoon wandering around in this ancient Roman ruin. You will still find remains of some houses and Roman baths. Roman latrines at the Forum One of Hadrian’s ties to Greece was his close relationship with a beautiful Greek youth named Antinous . During a journey to Egypt, Antinous tragically drowned in the Nile River and Hadrian was devastated with grief. He made Antinous a demi-god and put statues of him in many places including Athens. There are busts of Antinous in the National Museum, but the most famous one is in Delphi museum. Hadrian had visited Delphi on occasions and made dedications there. The cult of Antinous became very popular in the Greek-speaking world. Some suggest Hadrian created the cult as a political move to reconcile Greece and Rome. He created a form of parliament to unite the former city states across Greece and Asia Minor. He even started a popular fashion, the beard, which symbolized philhellenism. Until then it was fashionable among the Romans to be clean-shaven.

This new fashion lasted right until the reign of Constantine the Great. Antinous at the Delph Museum Hadrian certainly left his mark in Greece, especially in Athens, which benefitted greatly from its imperial patron. One historian states that Hadrian’s era was the “happiest era of history.” Going to Athens? Here are our top picks for where to stay while in Athens Written by and photos by W. Ruth Kozak for EuropeUpClose.com The Mighty Wall of Hadrian, Emperor of Rome | Ancient Origins 7 December, 2014 - 00:41 Ivan Petricevic The Mighty Wall of Hadrian, Emperor of Rome (Read the article on one page) Built by Emperor Hadrian of the Roman Empire, Hadrian's Wall stretches across the width of England south of its modern border with Scotland. This incredible monument covers over seventy miles (120 km) going from Wallsend on the east coast of England in North Tyneside to the salt marshes of the Solway Estuary in Cumbria on the west coast. It was built in two phases under the direction of Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was among the ‘Five Good Emperors’ of Rome.

Hadrian was an extremely prominent Roman Emperor, who reigned from 117 to 138 AD. Location of Hadrian’s Wall ( Wikipedia ) According to historical records, Hadrian was a very generous man, giving large amounts of money to communities and individuals, and is said to have been one of the few emperors that wanted to live unassumingly, like a private citizen. Hadrian was also well known for his extensive travelling throughout his empire, and it was Hadrian who laid the foundations of the Byzantine Empire. Hadrian's building projects are without a doubt his most enduring legacy. He founded cities throughout the entire Balkan Peninsula, Greece, Egypt and even Asia. The Arch of Hadrian constructed by the citizens of Athens in 132 AD honor Hadrian as the founder of the city. He also re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. But his most important monument is the wall constructed in the north of England. Remnants of Hadrian’s Wall. Source: BigStockPhoto Known in the past as Vallum Hadriani, the construction process of the wall began around 122 AD, corresponding to the visit of the Roman emperor to the province.

Originally 3 m wide (10 ft) and up to 6 m (20 ft) in height east of the river Irthing, and 6 m (10 ft) wide and 3.5 m (11.5 ft) meters high west of the river, the wall stretches over a vast distance across uneven terrain. It is believed that the wall was originally covered in plaster and was white-washed, giving the wall a shining surface that would have reflected the sunlight and making it visible from many miles away. Hadrian’s Wall (Northumberland) stretches for miles over rugged terrain. Source: BigStockPhoto The construction project took six years to complete and was first thought to have been built by slaves, but this was later disproven. It is now known that the builders of Hadrian's Wall were Roman legionaries who were stationed in Britain in over a dozen fortifications located along the wall. Hadrian's Wall underwent a series of mayor repairs standing strong as the northwestern frontier until the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. The Roman army was well known for having highly skilled architects, mason builders, surveyors and carpenters in their ranks.

The first excavation of Hadrian's wall are believed to have been undertaken by William Camden in the 1600's but the first actual drawings of the wall were made in the 18th century with formal archaeological studies beginning in the 19th century and continuing until today. Archaeologists carrying out excavations at Roman Vindolanda (2011) near Hadrian’s Wall. Source: BigStockPhoto As for the purpose of the Hadrian’s wall, this is a subject of much discussion and debate between historians and archaeologists. Hadrian's biographer wrote "(Hadrian) was the first to build a wall 80 miles long to separate the Romans from the barbarians", but there are no records that provide an exact explanation for its construction. A popular view is that it was built to control immigration and smuggling into England. Patrolling legionaries would have been able to keep track of who entered and exited Roman territory, allowing them to charge customs dues and check for smuggling. Other theories are that the wall was constructed to reflect Rome's power and might, control rebellion, and/or reflect Hadrian’s policy of defense before expansion.

Hadrian's Wall was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and in 2005 it became a transnational "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Site. Ivan Petričević is the founder of Featured image: Hadrian’s Wall. Source: BigStockPhoto Sources: Hadrian's Arch in Athens - Stay.com City Travel Guides Pili tou Adrianou Stay.com Editors' Note To thank the Roman Emperor Hadrian for finally completing the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athenians built Hadrian’s Arch in AD 131. Hadrian also saw to it that the arch clarified his own sovereignty. He had its west side inscribed: ‘This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus’. The east side was inscribed: ‘This is the city of Hadrian and not of Theseus’. Nearby is some more honorific masonry: the statue of Byron at the corner of Amalias and Olga. Hadrian's Arch Arch Of Hadrian In Athens, Greece Stock Photo - Image: 47137626 Arch of Hadrian in Athens, Greece with sky on background in summer.

MR: NO Hadrian | Top 5 Facts - YouTube Hadrian | Top 5 Facts Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on May 10, 2016 Wall builder, emperor and stylish beard wearer, here’s 5 facts on the famous Roman, Hadrian For more historical facts and features, visit --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hadrian’s wall is unique in the Roman Empire The Romans were some pretty top-notch architects but the 73 mile long Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most impressive. It was the largest wall-building project of the age and had no equal in Europe. Built to be a physical barrier against the Picts and the Scots in the north, it is believed to have been more of a symbolic border than a barrier and was used to regulate trade, smuggling and small raids. Essentially, we’re not actually entirely sure how much of a threat the Caledonians were in this period.

The wall helped boost Hadrian’s popularity and was even whitewashed to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible! He wasn’t a fan of Rome Hadrian is well known for preferring to stay out of the capital and instead preferred to spend time visiting the common soldiers on the empire’s borders, eating with them and sleeping in their barracks. The emperor spent roughly half of his entire reign touring the vast provinces, raising the morale of the legions in the process. He probably liked Athens more than he did Rome and is said to have had a love of Greek architecture and history. He just loved to build Under Emperor Hadrian, cities sprung up all over the empire in the Balkans, Egypt, Asia Minor and Greece. He rebuilt Jerusalem, the Arch of Hadrian was constructed in Athens and back in Rome the Pantheon was rebuilt after it was previously destroyed in fire. The most famous construction by this emperor though is obviously the wall, a structure that showcased Rome’s power at the beginning of Pax Romana. His building projects instigated rebellion It wasn’t just in Roman Britain that Hadrian was fighting enemies of the empire. His rebuilding of Jerusalem 70 CE in a Greek style was planned to exclude all Jews from the city.

The Jewish population were enraged after temples to the god Jupiter and the emperor himself were constructed. The revolt would prove costly for Rome and resulted in over 3 years of fighting and the deaths of half a million people. It’s Hadrian’s fault that Rome fell Well ok, that’s a little bit unbelievable but hear me out. Hadrian’s strategy towards the future of the empire was defensive and he was one of the first emperors to employ this tactic. With the focus on defensive fortifications rather than expanding the empire, over time the army became less experienced due to a lack of war. Hadrian’s empire was a good one but with the army’s, still immaculate, training not being put to use, the empire was at peace but slowly began to deteriorate internally. Category Hadrian - Ancient History Encyclopedia Hadrian by Joshua J.

Mark published on 02 September 2009 Hadrian (76-138 CE) was the fourteenth Emperor of Rome (10 August 117 to 10 July 138 CE) and is known as the third of the Five Good Emperors ( Nerva , Trajan , Hadrian, Antoninus Pius , and Marcus Aurelius ) who ruled justly. Born Publius Aelius Hadrianus, probably in Hispania, Hadrian is best known for his substantial building projects throughout the Roman Empire and, especially, Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain . Early Life As a young man, Hadrian was well educated in his hometown of Italica Hispania (modern day Seville, Spain) and left for Rome around the age of 14. His first military service was as Tribune under Emperor Nerva. When Nerva died, Trajan ascended to the throne. Emperor Trajan was the first Roman ruler of provincial origin.

Later biographers would attempt to place the birth of both Trajan and Hadrian in the city of Rome but both were of Hispanic ethnicity and this commonality has been assumed by some to be the reason for Trajan’s adoption of Hadrian as his successor (though most scholars dispute this). Trajan died on campaign in Cilicia in 117 CE, with Hadrian in command of his rear guard, and is not believed to have named a successor. Trajan’s wife, Plotina (who was fond of Hadrian) signed the papers of succession and it is thought that she, not the emperor, was responsible for Hadrian’s adoption as heir. However that may be, it is known that Trajan respected Hadrian and had considered him as his successor even if he did not officially name him as such. Hadrian’s service to Trajan is well documented through the various important positions he held prior to becoming emperor of Rome. Hadrian is commonly depicted in military attire even though his regime is marked by relative peace. Hadrian As Emperor His popularity as emperor is attested to by the fact that Hadrian was absent from Rome for the better part of his reign.

Earlier Roman rulers, such as Nero , were harshly criticized for spending less time away from the city. Professor D. Brendan Nagle writes that Hadrian “spent most of his reign (twelve out of twenty-one years) traveling all over the Empire visiting the provinces, overseeing the administration, and checking the discipline of the army. He was a brilliant administrator who concerned himself with all aspects of government and the administration of justice” (278). His devotion to the army was such that he would sleep and eat among the common soldiers and he is commonly depicted in military attire even though his regime is marked by relative peace. Hadrian’s building projects are perhaps his most enduring legacy. He established cities throughout the Balkan Peninsula, Egypt , Asia Minor , and Greece . His love for Greece and Greek literature was such that he was known as `Graeculus’ (Greekling) in his youth and his philhellenism did not dissipate with age. He visited Greece at least twice (probably more) and participated in the Eleusinian Mysteries, of which he was an initiate.

The Arch of Hadrian, constructed by the citizens of Athens in 131/132 CE, honor Hadrian as the founder of the city. Inscriptions on the arch name Theseus (the traditional founder) but add Hadrian owing to the latter’s substantial contributions to Athens (such as the Temple of Zeus ). He dedicated a number of sites in Greece to his young lover Antinous, who drowned in the Nile River in 130 CE. Hadrian was deeply attached to Antinous and the young man’s death so greatly affected the emperor that he had him deified (from which the mystery cult in honor of Antinous grew). In Egypt he founded the city of Antinopolis in his memory. In Rome he rebuilt the Pantheon (which had been destroyed by fire) and Trajan’s Forum as well as funding construction of other buildings, baths, and villas. Many of these structures survived intact for centuries, some as late as the 19th century CE, and the Pantheon, still perfectly preserved, may be visited in the present day.

Hadrian had a great interest in architecture and seems to have contributed ideas, or even plans, to the architects though scholars no longer believe that he was the lead architect on any single project. Hadrian's Wall Of all his significant monuments and buildings, Hadrian’s Wall in north Britain is the most famous. Construction of the wall, known in antiquity as Vallum Hadriani, was begun around 122 CE and corresponded to Hadrian’s visit to the province. It marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain but the length and breadth of the project (stretching, as it did, from coast to coast) suggests that the more important purpose of the wall was a show of Rome’s power. The wall was originally 9.7 feet wide (3 metres) and 16-20 feet high (six metres) east of the River Irthing, all built of stone, and 20 feet wide (6 metres) by 11.feet high (3.5 metres) west of the river, made up of stone and turf, stretching 73 miles (120 km) across uneven terrain. It was built in six years by the legions stationed in Britain.

There were between 14-17 fortifications along the length of the wall and a Vallum (a ditch purposefully constructed of earthworks) which ran parallel to the wall. The Vallum measured 20 feet (6 metres) wide by 10 feet (3 metres) deep flanked by large mounds of tightly packed earth. As Hadrian’s foreign policy was “peace through strength” it is thought that the wall, which was originally plastered and white washed, would have clearly represented the might of the Roman Empire. Famous Buildings and Structures Famous Buildings and Structures Prehistorical and Ancient The megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange in Ireland covers over an acre and was constructed around 3200 B.C. Buried for centuries, the mound was rediscovered in 1699 and was restored starting in 1962. The tomb is extensively decorated with spiral and lozenge shapes. At the winter solstice, the rising sun shines down a long passage and lights up a cross-shaped chamber. Stonehenge, a massive circular megalithic monument on the Salisbury Plain in southern England, is the most famous of all prehistoric structures. Thought to have been built c.

2000 B.C., it may have been used as an astronomical instrument to measure solar and lunar movements. The Great Sphinx of Egypt, one of the wonders of ancient Egyptian architecture, adjoins the pyramids of Giza and has a length of 240 ft. Built in the fourth dynasty, it is approximately 4,500 years old. A 10-year, $2.5 million restoration project was completed in 1998. Other Egyptian buildings of note include the Temples of Karnak, Edfu, and Abu Simbel and the Tombs at Beni Hassan. The Parthenon of Greece, built on the Acropolis in Athens, was the chief temple to the goddess Athena. It was believed to have been completed by 438 B.C. The present temple remained intact until the 5th century A.D. Today, though the Parthenon is in ruins, its majestic proportions are still discernible. Other great structures of the ancient Greek world were the Temples at Paestum (c. 540 and 420 B.C.); the famous Erechtheum (c.

421–405 B.C.), the Temple of Athena Nike (c. 426 B.C.), and the Olympieum (begun in the 6th century B.C.) in Athens; the Athenian Treasury at Delphi (c. 515 B.C.); and the Theater at Epidaurus (c. 325 B.C.). The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater) of Rome, the largest and most famous of the Roman amphitheaters, was opened for use A.D. 80. Elliptical in shape, it consisted of three stories and an upper gallery, rebuilt in stone in its present form in the 3rd century A.D. It was principally used for gladiatorial combat and could seat between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators. The Pantheon at Rome, begun by Agrippa in 27 B.C. as a temple, was rebuilt in its present circular form by Hadrian (A.D. 118–128).

Literally the Pantheon was intended as a temple of “all the gods.” It is remarkable for its perfect preservation today, and has served continuously for 20 centuries as a place of worship. Famous Roman triumphal arches, built to commemorate major military victories, include the Arch of Titus (c. A.D. 80) and the Arch of Constantine (c. A.D. 315). Later European St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice (1063–1071), one of the great examples of Byzantine architecture, was begun in the 9th century. Partly destroyed by fire in 976, it was later rebuilt as a Byzantine edifice. Other famous examples of Byzantine architecture are St. Sophia in Istanbul (532–537); San Vitale in Ravenna (542); and Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, Moscow (begun in 1475). The cathedral group at Pisa (1067–1173), one of the most celebrated groups of structures built in Romanesque style, consists of the cathedral, the cathedral's baptistery, and the campanile ( Leaning Tower ).

The campanile, a form of bell tower, is 180 ft high and now leans 13.5 ft out of the perpendicular. Other examples of Romanesque architecture include the Vézelay Abbey in France (1130) and Durham Cathedral in England. The Alhambra (1248–1354), located in Granada, Spain, is universally esteemed as one of the greatest masterpieces of Muslim architecture. Designed as a palace and fortress for the Moorish monarchs of Granada, it is surrounded by a heavily fortified wall more than a mile in perimeter. The Tower of London is a group of buildings and towers covering 13 acres along the north bank of the Thames. The central White Tower, begun in 1078 during the reign of William the Conqueror, was originally a fortress and royal residence, but was later used as a prison. The Bloody Tower is associated with Anne Boleyn and other notables. Westminster Abbey, in London, was begun in 1050 and completed in 1065. It was rebuilt and enlarged in several phases, beginning in 1245.

With only two exceptions (Edward V and Edward VIII), every British monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned in the abbey. Notre-Dame de Paris (begun in 1163), one of the great examples of Gothic architecture, is a twin-towered church with a steeple over the crossing and immense flying buttresses supporting the masonry at the rear of the church. Other famous Gothic structures are Chartres Cathedral (France; 12th century); Sainte-Chapelle (Paris, France; 1246–1248); Reims Cathedral (France; 13th–14th centuries; rebuilt after its almost complete destruction in World War I); Rouen Cathedral (France; 13th–16th centuries); Salisbury Cathedral (England; 1220–1260); York Minster, or the Cathedral of St. Peter (England; 1220–1472); Milan Cathedral (Italy; begun in 1386); and Cologne Cathedral (Germany; 13th–19th centuries; damaged in World War II but completely restored).

The Duomo (cathedral) in Florence, with its pink, white, and green marble façade, has become a symbol of the city and the Renaissance. Construction began in 1296 and was completed nearly 200 years later, with the addition of Brunelleschi's massive dome. The adjacent baptistery is famous for its gilded bronze doors by Ghiberti. The Vatican is a group of buildings in Rome comprising the official residence of the pope. The Basilica of St. Peter, the largest church in the Christian world, was begun in 1452, and it was rebuilt between 1506 and 1626. The Sistine Chapel, begun in 1473, is noted for frescoes by Michelangelo. Other examples of Renaissance architecture are the Palazzo Riccardi, the Palazzo Pitti, and the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence; the Palazzo Farnese in Rome; the Palazzo Grimani (completed c.

1550) in Venice; the Escorial (1563–93) near Madrid; the Town Hall of Seville (1527–32); the Louvre, Paris; the Château at Blois, France; St. Paul's Cathedral, London (1675–1710; badly damaged in World War II); the École Militaire, Paris (1752); the Pazzi Chapel, Florence, designed by Brunelleschi (1429); and the Palace of Fontainebleau and the Château de Chambord in France. The Palace of Versailles in France, containing the famous Hall of Mirrors, was built during the reign of Louis XIV in the 17th century and served as the royal palace until 1793. Built on the colossal scale typical of many works of baroque architecture, the palace is also noted for its gardens, which include some 1,400 fountains.

Outstanding European buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries are the Superga at Turin (Italy); the Hôtel-Dieu in Lyons; the Belvedere Palace at Vienna; the Royal Palace of Stockholm; the Bank of England, the British Museum, the University of London, and the Houses of Parliament, all in London; and the Panthéon, the Church of the Madeleine, the Bourse, the Palais de Justice, and the Opera House, all in Paris. The Eiffel Tower, in Paris, was built for the Exposition of 1889 by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. It is 984 ft high (1,056 ft including the television tower). The Guggenheim Bilbao Museum (1993–97) in Bilbao, Spain, was designed by Frank Gehry. The undulating form of this riverfront building, clad in glass and gleaming sheets of titanium, has been compared to a fish, a boat, and water itself.

See also: Seven Wonders of the World Asian, African, and South American The Taj Mahal (1632–1650), at Agra, India, built by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife, is considered by some as the most perfect example of the Mogul style and by others as the most beautiful building in the world. Four slim white minarets flank the building, which is topped by a white dome; the entire structure is made of marble. Another well-known Muslim edifice is the Citadel, located on an outcrop of limestone overlooking Cairo. Begun in 810, it was fortified (1176–1183) by Saladin during the Crusades. Petra, in Jordan, is an ancient city whose buildings have been carved out of the surrounding hills. It was the capital of the Nabataeans in the 4th century B.C. The most famous of its buildings is Al Khazneh, a temple or treasury, with its impressive two-story facade jutting out from a pink rock.

Other famed Muslim edifices are the Tombs of the Mamelukes (15th century) in Cairo, the Tomb of Humayun in Delhi, the Blue Mosque (1468) at Tabriz, and the Tamerlane Mausoleum at Samarkand. Angkor Wat, outside the city of Angkor Thom, Cambodia, is one of the most beautiful examples of Cambodian, or Khmer, architecture. The sanctuary was built during the 12th century. The 8th-century Borobudur Temple on Java is a masterpiece of Indonesian Buddhist art and architecture. Its ascending terraces feature bas-relief sculptures and 72 Buddha statues. The Great Wall of China (begun c. 214 B.C.), designed specifically as a defense against nomadic tribes, has large watchtowers that could be called buildings. It was erected by Emperor Ch'in Shih Huang Ti and is 1,400 mi long. Built mainly of earth and stone, it varies in height between 18 and 30 ft.

The Forbidden City (1407–1420) in Beijing served as the seat of imperial power during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911). It is the world's largest palace complex, covering about 183 acres and including 9,999 buildings. Typical of Chinese architecture are the pagodas, or temple towers. Among some of the better-known pagodas are the Great Pagoda of the Wild Geese at Sian (founded in 652) and Nan t'a (11th century) at Fang Shan. Other well-known Chinese buildings are the Drum Tower (1273), the Three Great Halls in the Forbidden City (1627), Buddha's Perfume Tower (19th century), the Porcelain Pagoda, and the Summer Palace, all at Beijing. The painted wooden Torii, or Gateway, at Miyajima Island, Japan, stands in the tidal flats opposite the historic Itsukushima Shrine. Built in the traditional Shinto style, with two columns supporting a concave crosspiece on top, the gate serves to welcome the spirits of the dead as they come from across the Inland Sea.

Other famous Japanese buildings include Himeji Castle (17th century) and the Buddhist temples of Horyuji (7th century) and Todaiji (8th century) at Nara, and Phoenix Hall (11th century) at Uji near Kyoto. Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca fortress in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Thought to have been built and occupied from the mid-15th century, it is surrounded on three sides by stepped agricultural terraces, which are connected to the main plazas and buildings by thousands of stone steps. Teotihuacán, located in central Mexico, was the largest city in the Americas at its height between A.D. 300 and 900. Built on a grid plan with a central avenue known as the Street of the Dead, it is the site of two enormous pyramid temples and the temple of the plumed serpent god Quetzalcoatl. The city of Tikal in Guatemala, with its monumental temples and palaces, embodies the height of the Maya classic period (A.D. 300–900). Easter Island is famous for its nearly 900 imposing monolithic stone figures called moais that dot the island.

The statues are between 10 and 40 ft high and weigh an average of 14 tons. The island's Polynesian inhabitants are thought to have carved the figures between 400 and 1,000 years ago, but how they accomplished this extraordinary task and what the statues meant to them remains a mystery. United States The Chrysler Building (1928–1930) in New York City is one of the finest examples of art deco–style architecture. Built for automotive magnate Walter P. Chrysler, the building uses decorative elements borrowed from automobiles. At 1,046 ft it was briefly the world's tallest building. The Empire State Building (1930–1931) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Manhattan. Features include a tiered structure that recalls ancient pyramids and a mast at the top for mooring dirigibles. Rising to 1,250 ft (not including the mast), it remained the tallest building in the world until the 1970s. The elegant Seagram Building (1954–1958), by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, soars above an open plaza in Manhattan.

Its slim steel frame is covered in amber-gray glass and costly bronze. It has been called the world's most imitated office building. Rockefeller Center, in New York City, extends from 5th Ave. to the Avenue of the Americas between 48th and 52nd Sts. (and halfway to 7th Ave. between 47th and 51st Sts.). It occupies more than 22 acres and has 19 buildings. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in New York City, was begun in 1892 and is now two-thirds completed. When completed, it will be the largest cathedral in the world: 601 ft long, 146 ft wide at the nave, 320 ft wide at the transept. The east end is Romanesque-Byzantine style, and the nave and west end are Gothic. The Brooklyn Bridge (1869–1883) was the remarkable achievement of engineer John Roebling. The first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world, it has a main span of 1,596 ft.

The smooth, circular form of the Guggenheim New York Museum (1943–1959), designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is a Manhattan landmark. The main gallery space features a six-story concrete ramp that spirals up a glass-topped atrium. The Statue of Liberty was designed by Fredéric Auguste Bartholdi of Alsace as a gift to Americans from the people of France. The statue of a female figure holding a torch in her raised hand was accepted on Oct. 28, 1886, by President Grover Cleveland. The 225-ton steel-reinforced copper structure stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. It is 152 ft tall and stands on a 150-foot pedestal. The Willis Tower, formerly called the Sears Tower , in Chicago is, at 1,450 ft, the tallest building in the United States. Constructed between 1974 and 1976 for Sears, Roebuck and Company, the structure is composed of 75-foot-square tubes that rise to varying levels. The Gateway Arch, located on the riverfront in St.

Louis, Mo., is a tapered curve of stainless steel rising to 630 ft. The tallest manmade memorial in the United States, the Arch was designed by Finnish-born U.S. architect Eero Saarinen and built between 1963 and 1966. Visitors can ride to the top in specially devised capsule-like tram cars. Mount Rushmore (6,000 ft), in South Dakota, became a celebrated American landmark after sculptor Gutzon Borglum took on the project of carving into the side of it the heads of four great presidents. From 1927 until his death in 1941, Borglum worked on chiseling the 60-foot likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. His son, Lincoln, finished the sculpture later that year. San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, completed in 1937, is one of the most recognizable structures in the United States. Designed by Joseph B. Strauss, this elegant suspension bridge has a main span of 4,200 ft. The Seattle Space Needle was the futuristic centerpiece of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.

The 605-foot-tall Needle is topped by an observation deck and a revolving restaurant.

Question: In which European city is the famous Arch of Hadrian?
Answer: Athens