Athens Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos

Location: Acropolis

The Choragic (also known as Choregic) Monument of Thrasyllos is an ancient, marble-based sight that can be spotted in a cave near the hill of Acropolis, right above the Theater of Dionysus! Based on the inscriptions, it is believed to have been built right around 320-319 B.C. on behalf of the wealthy chorigos (i.e. sponsor) Thrasyllos, then subsequently modified between the years of 272 and 270 B.C. from his son, Thrasycles.

The front-facing part of the monument hosted two large door openings, along with a central pillar and antae pilasters! Its main characteristics are its Doric order and a continuous set of sculpted panels depicting wreaths of olive and ivy leaves, as well as a trophy for Thrasyllos’ theatrical competition win. After his offspring won two additional trophies, he extended the monument by two extra tripods while also slightly altering its upper section!

The monument was converted into a Christian church building during the early years of Christianity, given that information from 17th-century travelers unveils the existence of a Christian temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary of the Rock, including some remains that can still be spotted inside the cave! Plus, a statue of Dionysus seems to have been put in place over Thrasyllos’ central tripod, but it was removed in 1802 and can now be found in the British Museum.

The Monument of Thrasyllos had mostly stayed intact until it was demolished by Ottomans in 1827 in the Second Siege of the Acropolis, during the period of the Greek War of Independence. In the current time, plenty of extensive preservation works have managed to revive most of this sight’s old form and glory, whilst some of its material was also reused and reshaped to help the restoration works of the Church of Soteira Lykodemou!

The photo is taken from www.wikipedia.com.

How to get there

There are many ways to reach the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos from any location in Athens.

Private transfers: We recommend using an online pre-booked transfer service, which provides transfer by taxi, minibus, or private VIP car and arranging a pickup directly from the port, airport, or your hotel. Alternatively, there’s the option of arranging a pickup by a local driver directly at the following numbers: (0030) 18288, (0030) 18222, (0030) 18180. You can also book your taxi online.

On foot: As the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos is located in a central area of Athens, it can be easily reached on foot from Syntagma Square in approximately 20 minutes.

By metro: The closest metro station is Akropoli (Red Line). Note that the Choragic Monument of Thrasyllos is located within a 10-minute walking distance from the metro. Get a map of the metro here.

By bus/trolleybus: The closest bus stop is "Mouseio Akropolis" (Bus line 230). Check the routes and the official timetables on OASA Telematics.

By tram: The closest tram stop is Leoforos Vouliagmenis (Route 6, Syntagma-Pikrodafni). Get a map of the tram here.