In the vicinity of Plaka, a few steps from the Acropolis, there is a monument to Lysicrates. This is not the largest, but one of the most ancient sights of Athens. The history of the monument, which was built at the expense of a wealthy Athenian resident Lysicrates, is quite eventful.
In ancient times, stage productions and performances in the theatre of Dionysus were arranged at the expense of rich sponsors. They were called choregoi. These people defrayed the cost of masks, costumes, decorations, sound effects — in short, all the necessary needs. Being a sponsor of stage productions was considered an honorable mission.
If a production sponsored by a choregos was declared as the best, the city authorities awarded him a prize at the end of the year. Lysicrates was one of these rich people. He defrayed the expenses of many of the performances that took place in Athens. In the 4th century BC, Lysicrates erected a monument after winning Dionysiacs. In order to fix the prize, he erected a special building on the path leading to the ancient theatre of Dionysus.
The monument of Lysicrates was built in the form of a 6 metres high rotunda made of pentelic marble. The rotunda is decorated with Corinthian columns. Above them, you can see a frieze depicting scenes from the myths about Dionysus and scenes from the production that won the title of the best one. The monument is crowned with a stone flower of the acanthus plant — the Lysicrates’ prize was installed on it and it was connected to the flower with a bronze chain. It did not reach our days.
In 1658, a Capuchin monastery appeared next to the monument of Lysicrates. This is where Byron stayed during his another trip to Greece. In 1669, the monastery managed to obtain an ancient structure, which at that time was called the "Diogenes’ Lantern" and the "Demosthenes’ Lantern" because its true purpose was unknown.
In 1762, the first structural drawings and engravings of the monument were made by young British architects James Stewart and Nicholas Revett. The drawings were published in London, and soon the monument of Lysicrates became known in England and in France as a symbol of ancient Greek culture. Architects of the time strived to build something similar when creating English landscape gardens. Now replicas of the monument are found in different countries of the world: from the UK and the USA to Australia.
In 1821, during the Greek war of independence, the Capuchin monastery was destroyed by fire and demolished. The monument of Lysicrates also suffered: the advanced age and the weather conditions were considered to be the main reasons. Later, Lord Elgin was negotiating for taking the ancient structure to England, but did not succeed in it.
At the end of the XIX century, French archaeologists discovered that the monument was in disrepair. They explored the area in the hope of finding fragments of the structure. And in 1876-1887 the French with the support of the government of France renewed the monument of Lysicrates.
Today, the monument of Lysicrates is actually the only surviving choragic monument in Athens. And in many ways this is due to the monks. The rest of the "sponsor" monuments have only the foundations, which survived to nowadays (they were found during excavations in the 80ies), and that is why the structure is one-of-a-kind. The monument of Lysicrates in Athens is located in a small square where you can drink a cup of coffee or have lunch in the shade of trees. There is an information board with the historical facts near the structure.
The monument of Lysicrates is conveniently located near the religious sights of Athens. Within the walking distance, you will find the temple of Olympian Zeus, the Acropolis, the Acropolis Museum and the Museum of Modern Greek culture.
“Acropolis” metro station (line 2) is 300 m from the monument.
You can reach the “Acropolis Museum” bus stop by the bus No.230, and then walk about 700 m on foot.
