The Nymphaeum is located in the southern part of the Ancient Agora of Athens, on the western side of the Panathenaic way. It is an elaborate fountain structure that dates back to the 2nd century CE and was constructed atop the remains of the 4th century BCE Mint. It is preserved in poor condition as the Byzantine church of the Holy Apostles was built on top of it in the 11th century AD.
The nymphaea, named after the Nymphs, deities of nature and fresh water, were public monumental fountain structures developed in the urban centres of the Roman Empire. They were usually constructed in central locations of the urban fabric, where large groups of people commonly gathered, and their façades were adorned with rich sculptural ensembles. The nymphaea were part of a city’s water supply infrastructure, essentially connected to the management of the public water distribution system by the central authorities. However, the elaborate constructions and artistic compositions of the nymphaea also expressed the aesthetics of their era, creating a distinctive and luxurious environment within the city.
The Nymphaeum of the Ancient Agora was a semi-circular building with an 18-metre diameter plan that overlooked the Panathenaic Way. Due to its poor state of preservation, its reconstruction is based on similar fountain structures, such as the nymphaea of Olympia and Argos. The building was accessed by a staircase with three steps leading to the central arch. The cistern was covered with marble slabs and the walls of the curved side featured niches in which statues of emperors were placed. Water flowed from pipes running through the pedestals of the statues and was collected in the semi-circular tank.
The Nymphaeum was constructed during the period of emperor Hadrian, as part of the broader architectural beautification program of Athens. It is associated with the construction of the extensive water supply system, serving as the monumental endpoint of the Hadrianic aqueduct that brought water from Penteli to the Agora. Its construction was probably completed after the death of Hadrian, in 140 CE, by his successor Antoninus the Pius. However, a number of scholars argue that it was actually donated to the city by a private individual, Herodes Atticus. We do not know exactly when the use of the Nymphaeum ceased; however, it is considered that by the 4th century it would have been in a ruinous state.
