Was Lysicrates just showing off? The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates stands before us. It is a testament to ancient Athenian pride and architectural innovation. Lysicrates was a wealthy patron of the arts. He sponsored a winning chorus in the City Dionysia competition in 335/334 BCE. To celebrate this victory, Lysicrates erected this monument.
The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates marks the first known use of the Corinthian order on the exterior of a building. Notice the elegant columns and intricate details. The monument originally held a bronze tripod. This tripod was the prize awarded to Lysicrates’ chorus.
The frieze depicts the myth of Dionysus and the Tyrrhenian pirates. It tells the story of Dionysus turning pirates into dolphins. Another frieze below shows choragic tripods. The inscription tells us Lysikrates was the sponsor. Akamantis won the boys’ competition. Theon played the pipe. Lysiades directed. Euainetos was archon.
This monument stands on Tripodon Street. This street once led to the Theater of Dionysus. It was lined with similar monuments. Foundations of these monuments were found in the 1980s.
In 1658, Capuchin monks founded a monastery here. By 1669, they owned the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. It became the monastery library. People called it the “Lantern of Demosthenes” or “Lantern of Diogenes”. Jacob Spon deciphered the inscription revealing its true purpose.
British architects documented the monument in 1762. Engravings made it famous in Europe. Lord Byron stayed at the monastery. In 1818, a friar planted the first tomato plants in Greece here. During the Greek War of Independence, the monastery burned down in 1821. The monument was exposed to the elements.
French archaeologists later cleared rubble and restored it. Architects François Boulanger and E. Loviot oversaw the restoration. In 2016, anarchists vandalized the monument with spray paint.
Today, you can find versions of the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates around the world. Edinburgh has the Dugald Stewart Monument. Sydney has one in the Royal Botanic Gardens. It even inspired the cupola of the Tennessee State Capitol.
The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates represents more than a victory. It symbolizes artistic patronage and architectural innovation. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty and historical significance.