
Choragic Monument of Lysicrates Tours and Tickets
Overview
The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates near the Acropolis of Athens was erected by the choregos Lysicrates, a wealthy patron of musical performances in the Theater of Dionysus, to commemorate the prize in the dithyramb contest of the City Dionysia in 335/334 BCE, of which performance he was liturgist. The monument is known as the first use of the Corinthian order on the exterior of a building. It has been reproduced widely in modern monuments and building elements. The circular structure, raised on a high squared podium, is the first Greek monument built in the Corinthian order on its exterior. It was originally crowned with an elaborate floral support for the bronze tripod, the prize awarded to Lysicrates' chorus. Its frieze sculpture is thought to depict the myth of Dionysus and the Tyrrhenian pirates from the Homeric Hymn. Immediately below the architrave and between the column capitals is a second frieze depicting the choragic tripods. The monument is inscribed "Lysikrates son of Lysitheides of Kikynna was sponsor, Akamantis was victorious in the boys’ competition, Theon was pipe-player, Lysiades of Athens directed, Euainetos was archon". It stands now in its little garden on the Tripodon Street ("Street of the Tripods"), which follows the line of the ancient street of the name, which led to the Theater of Dionysus and was once lined with choragic monuments, of which foundations were discovered in excavations during the 1980s. In 1658, a French Capuchin monastery was founded by the site; in 1669 the monastery succeeded in purchasing the monument, then being called the "Lantern of Demosthenes". It was also called "Lantern of Diogenes". A reading of its inscription by Jacob Spon established its original purpose. The young British architects James "Athenian" Stuart and Nicholas Revett published the first measured drawings of the monument in their Antiquities of Athens, London 1762. The monument became famous in France and England through engravings of it, and "improved" versions became eye-catching features in several English landscape gardens. Lord Byron stayed at the monastery during his second visit to Greece. In 1818, friar Francis planted in its gardens the first tomato plants in Greece. In 1821 the convent, which had enclosed the monument, used as a storage for books, was burned by the Ottomans during the Greek War of Independence, and subsequently demolished, and the monument was inadvertently exposed to the weather. In 1829, the monks offered the structure to an Englishman on tour, but it proved to be too cumbersome to disassemble and ship. Lord Elgin negotiated unsuccessfully for the monument, by then an icon in the Greek Revival. French archaeologists cleared the rubble from the half-buried monument and searched the area for missing architectural parts. In 1876–1887, the architects François Boulanger and E. Loviot supervised a restoration under the auspices of the French government. In June 2016, anarchists vandalised the monument with spray paint, writing: "Your Greek monuments are concentration camps for immigrants".
More info
- The Monument of Lysicrates is located outdoors where there is little shade, so wear a hat and sunscreen to visit in the summer.
- The pedestal sits at the end of Tripodon Street, one of the liveliest shopping and dining thoroughfares in Plaka, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood.
- The square around the monument is flat and paved, easy to navigate with strollers and wheelchairs.
The similar Tours
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Join us for an exciting bicycle tour of Athens that takes you through some of the city’s most iconic landmarks in just 2 hours!
This tour will take you on an adventure to 22 incredible locations, including the Acropolis, and the Acropolis Museum, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Pnyx, National Observatory of Athens, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Tripodon Street, and scenic corners of Plaka, Hadrian’s Library, Philopappou, Thiseio, Fethiye Mosque, Arch Hadrian, Monument of Lysicrates, Tower of the Winds, Roman Agora, Ancient Agora of Athens, Theater of Dionysus, Kerameikos Cemetery, Monastiraki Square, up to the local neighborhood of Thiseio.
As you cycle through the Athens streets, you’ll enjoy stunning views of ancient ruins, beautiful architecture, and impressive monuments, all while learning about the rich history and culture of Athens. So don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to experience the best of Athens on two wheels!

from
$218.83
For this private tour, have your tour guide pick you up from central point in Plaka.
Your first stop in Athens will be Beit Shalom Synagogue.
Close to it, you will see the ancient cemetery of Keramikos from the 8th century BC.
After that, you will get to see the new Jewish Museum, which is considered one of the most important Jewish museums in Europe.
After visiting the museum, the private guide will take you to the Acropolis, passing by the gates of the Holy Rock of Athens you will see the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the temple of Erechtheion with the Maidens, and Parthenon
Later on, the private tour will continue to the center of the city, taking you to the central Syntagma square.
The total duration of the tour will be 4 hours. All the tickets are at your own expense.
Access for Seniors
- Physical difficulty level for Seniors - 2
Access for Visually Impaired
- Service animals permitted
Accessibility for wheels
- Wide doors >= 75 cm and < 90 cm
- Easy without assistance
- Bathroom: Too narrow for wheelchair
- Access with Portable Ramp