Photos

Philopappos Monument
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I. About the shot
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I rushed to get to the hill on time for the blue hour, knowing that it would not last for long, I barely arrived on time. There were 5-6 more people shooting around and I had brought no tripod with me!!! I used a cement column I found next to the monument which served me well for a dozen of shots. Soon enough the other people (who had no tripod either!!) lined behind me for a shot on the newly discovered "tripod". I can tell you that I had an awful time there because my allergies struck back from nowhere. I had to stop each shot for a 5-minute sneezing break. I rushed down the hill fearing I might not arrive alive to my house, since my eyes and nose were all aching and itching.

I believe I managed to turn the original shot into something viewable. See here what I mean...

II. History
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Philopappos’ monument is a two-storey structure, supported by a base. On the lower level there is a frieze representing Philopappos as a consul, riding on a chariot and led by lictors. The upper level shows statues of three men: of Antiochus IV on the left, of Philopappos in the centre and of Seleucus I Nicator, now lost, on the right.

In the niche below Philopappos is an inscription that says: Φιλόπαππος Επιφάνους Βησαιευς, ("Philopappos, son of Epiphanes of the deme of the Besa"). This was the name Philopappos carried as an Athenian citizen. In the niche left of Philopappos, an inscription in Latin, records Philopappos’ titles, honors and his career as a Roman magistrate: "Caius Iulius Antiochus Philopappos, son of Caius, of the Fabian tribe, consul and Arval brother, admitted to the praetorian rank by the emperor Caesar Nerva Trajan Optumus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus". On the right niche of Philopappos once read a Greek inscription (now the base is only preserved): Βασιλεύς Αντίοχος Φιλόπαππος Βασιλέως Επιφανούς Αντιόχου ("King Antiochus Philopappos, son of King Epiphanes, son of Antiochus").

Below the statue of Antiochus IV, Philopappos' paternal grandfather, is an inscription that states "King Antiochus son of King Antiochus". This inscription honors Antiochus IV and his late father, the last independent ruler of the Kingdom of Commagene, King Antiochus III Epiphanes. When Antiochus III died in 17, Commagene was annexed by the Roman Emperor Tiberius and became apart of the Roman Empire. Below the statue of Seleucus I, the founder of the Seleucid Empire from whom the Commagene kings claimed descent, stood another inscription, now lost. The traveller Cyriacus of Ancona wrote in his memoir that underneath th inscription stated "King Seleucus Nicator, son of Antiochus".

The monument measures 9.80 m × 9.30 m, and contains Philopappos’ burial chamber. The structure is built of white Pentelic marble on a socle 3.08 m high, made of poros marble and veneered with slabs of Hymettian marble. The north side of Philopappos’ monument bears lavish architectural decorations.

Again the original is here.

Thanks in advance for your comments
Nikos