The Ancient City of Athens
The Lysikrates Monument & Street of the Tripods
Home

Sites & Monuments

Essays & Other Resources

More About This Site

Contact Information
Creative Commons License by-nc-sa
This site was created for educational purposes by Kevin T. Glowacki. All content on this website (including text and photographs), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

The Lysikrates Monument is the best preserved example of a choregic monument. Wealthy Athenian citizens financed the training and outfitting of choruses for competitive dramatical and musical performances. The producer (called the "choregos") assumed this expense as part of his civic and religious duty (an ancient "liturgy" called the "choregia"). The winning producer was awarded a bronze tripod. These tripods were displayed either in or near the sanctuary of Dionysos on the South Slope of the Acropolis or along the Street of the Tripods, an ancient road that led from the sanctuary of Dionysos around the east and northeast sides of the Acropolis. The tripods were set up on bases and other small structures inscribed with the names of the producer/choregos, the victorious Athenian tribe, the musician who accompanied the performance, the poet who "taught" the chorus, and the name of the Athenian magistrate at the time. The Lysikrates Monument was constructed on the western side of the Street of the Tripods in order to commemorate a choral victory in 335/334 B.C. (In the Middle Ages, the monument also acquired the nickname "Lantern of Demosthenes" from the erroneous belief that the 4h century orator composed his speeches there.).
Browse the Image Catalogue (click on any thumbnail to view larger image)
Select Bibliography:
  • Amandry, P. 1976. "Trépieds d'Athènes: I. Dionysies," Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 100, pp. 15-93.
  • Amandry, P. 1977. "Trépieds d'Athènes: I. Thargélies," Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique101, pp. 165-202.
  • Amandry, P. 1997. "Monuments chorégiques d'Athènes," Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 121, pp. 445-487.
  • Bauer, H. "Lysikratesdenkmal. Baubestand und Reconstruction," Athenische Mitteilungen 92, pp. 197-227.
  • Choremi-Spetsieri, A. 1994. "I ODOS TON TRIPODON KAI TA CHOREGIKA MNIMEIA STIN ARCHAIA ATHINA," in The Archaeology of Athens and Attica under the Democracy, eds. W.D.E. Coulson, et. al, Oxford, pp. 31-42.
  • Ehrhardt, W. 1993. "Das Fries des Lysikratesmonuments," Antike Plastik 22, pp. 7-67.
  • Korres, M. 1989. "PLATEIA LYSIKRATOUS," Archaiologikon Deltion 38 (1981) B1,, pp. 5-7.
  • McCredie, J.R. 1984. "The 'Lantern of Demosthenes' and Lysikrates, Son of Lysitheides, of Kikynna," in Studies Presented to Sterling Dow (GRBS Monograph 10), pp. 181-183.
  • Makres, A. 1994. "The Institution of the 'Choregia' in Classical Athens (diss. Oxford 1994).
  • Reimann, H. 1956. "Lysikratesmonument," RE Suppl. 8, Berlin, cols 266-348.
  • Wilson, P. 2000. The Athenian Institution of the Khoregia, Cambridge.

Recommended websites: