Monument of Agrippa

On the Entrance to the Acropolis, almost directly opposite the Nike Temple, stands the colossal pedestal of bluish-grey Hymettos Marble that is so-called Monument of Agrippa. The upper surface suggests it was probably surmounted by a bronze quadriga. The pedestal was erected in 178 BC by King Eumenes II of Pergamon, commemorating a horse race victory at the Panathenaic Games at the same year. The quadriga was later removed and replaced by statues of Antony and Cleopatra, probably in 39 BC. Circa 27 BC, the people of Athens mounted another quadriga on the pedestal, in honor of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, who was Emperor Augustus' first minister and who treated Athens with great favor.