East Triumphal Arch
The east side of the Roman court was defined by an impressive triumphal arch through which a road led to an area outside the walls of the Sanctuary with baths, hotels and other public edifices that served the worshippers during their visit.
The arch in pentelic marble, has a total height of 16m and is made in imitation of the Arch of Hadrian in Athens. Its lower part formed an arc that at the threshold had an opening of 4,85m.
On either side of the arc there were pedestals which supported columns of the Corinthian order, while in the corners stood pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The pedestals were decorated with relief crossed torches, one of the best known emblems of goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone.
The upper section of the arch was divided by Corinthian columns into three parts, the middle part with gable at the top in imitation of a temple front. There, most probably, were placed the bronze statues of the emperors and members of their family.
Across the architrave of the arc a double-faced inscription was engraved: «THE PANHELLENES DEDICATED THE ARCH TO THE GODDESSES AND THE EMPEROR». It was visible from both the east and west side of the arch, written in such a way that the word αυτοκράτορι/ emperor featured exactly above the center of the arched opening.
Today, near the base of the monument there are assembled many architectural parts, as well as several fragments of the double inscription, while a small-scale model of the arch has also been reconstructed.
The two identical arches on the east and west limit of the Roman Court, are dedications to the two goddesses of the Eleusinian Sanctuary and to Hadrian, by the Panhellenes. These were the members of the Panhelleniun, the Union of all the Greek cities of the three continents into a federation of religious, political and cultural character, which was founded by the emperor in 131/132 AD, with Athens as its seat.
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