ATHENS. 315 
Gordian, were, like this of Hadrian, entirely of CHAP. 
marble. In addition, it may be urged, that y - / 
trophies of this kind were unknown in Greece 
before the time of the Roman Emperors. The 
mere circumstance of its form is therefore 
almost decisive as to its origin; for the practice 
of erecting arches, as monuments of noble 
enterprises, and in honour of distinguished 
personages, was not a Grecian but a Roman 
custom. Its proper appellation seems there- 
fore to be that which tradition, supported by 
the evidence of an inscription upon its south- 
eastern side, has long assigned to it ; namely, 
the ARCH OF HADRIAN: and the occasion of 
its erection will be found in the remarkable when 
event of Hadrians return to Athens for the con- ei 
secration of the identical temple to which this 
arch conducted : this happened early in the 
second century'. Three years only had elapsed 
since the Emperor entered into the priesthood 
of the Eleusinian Ceres ; an event which was 
distinguished by the martyrdom of many 
Athenian Christians, with Publius their bishop*. 
The Heathens were therefore animated by every 
emotion of religious zeal, and by every 
(3 A.D. 128. (4) A.U. 125. 
