Τhe Lost Skin of the Library of Hadrian in Athens. "... κίονες φρυγίου λίθου ... ὀρόφῳ τε ἐπιχρύσῳ καὶ ἀλαβάστρῳ λίθῳ"

Abstract

The paper presents a brief description of the architecture of the Library of Hadrian in Athens, followed by a detailed analysis of the construction of the walls, the rooms in the east of the compound and the revetments. The Library of Hadrian was the only building in Athens that employed prestigious Phrygian marble (Synnadian or pavonazzetto). The study of 200 fragments of Phrygian marble from columns, pilasters and wall revetments allows for a reconsideration of the architecture. Three solutions are proposed with regards the architecture of the large, aedicular eastern hall, termed the Bibliostasio. Intrepretation of its function –whether a book keeping hall or a Κaisersaal /Dio’s sekos to Hadrian- is combined with the architectural features and the new data.