Along the ancient Tripodon Street, which connects the Prytaneion with the Theater of Dionysus, an ancient Athenian could see the choragic tripods, prizes of victory in dramatic games, devoted by choregoi (the wealthy citizens in ancient Athens who defrayed the costs for bringing out a chorus) to deities. Tripods were incorporated in the top of monuments frequently built in the shape of ancient temples. One of those monuments, which stands intact nowadays, is the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Plaka, by the road still preserving its ancient name.
In the past, the monument was known as “Lantern of Demosthenes” as it is said that the Athenian rhetor closed himself there to treat his speech impediment by speaking with pebbles in his mouth. It was also named “Lantern of Diogenes”, as it was thought to be the residence of the philosopher or due to the shape of the acanthus in its head.
According to the inscription in the east part of the architrave the monument was constructed by Lysicrates, son of Lysitheides of Akamantis tribe during the 111 Olympiad (335-334 BC). The circural frieze is decorated with relief depicting the myth of the captivity of Dionysos by Tyrrhenian Pirates.
During the 17th century, the monument was incorporated in the adjacent Capuchin monastery. Initially, it was used as a chapel. Later, the monks opened an entrance by removing one of the panels on the northwest side and used the monument as a reading room and library. Ιn the beginning of the 19th century Chateaubriand and Lord Byron were hosted in the monastery; in the same period (1805) Lord Elgin unsuccessfully tried to transfer the whole building to England.
Multiple depictions of the monument in travel accounts of journeys contributed to its popularity in Europe. It is considered the first characteristic sample of the Corinthian rhythm and it has been reproduced widely in modern monuments and building elements around the world. Copies of the monument can be found in Edimburg (Dugald Stewart Monument and Burns' Monument), at Shugborough Park in Staffordshire, in the Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church of All Saints in the Camden Town area of London, in Riverside Drive in New York and in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The historic building also inspired the architect of the demolished today Tsopotou House in Peiraios Street.
In the Thematic Exhibition you will find depictions of the Lysicrates monument and its individual elements in travel accounts from the 18th century onwards, photographs, drawings and paintings.
The exhibition contains items from the following institutions:
