Tower of the Winds (Creek of Andronicos), Athens

The Tower of the Winds stands in the Pláka below the north side of the Acropolis. In the planning of the modern city of Athens in the 19th century. Eólou Street, named after the wind god Ailos, was aligned directly on the tower, which forms a landmark at its southern end.
Built about 40 B.C., the tower is an octagonal structure 12m/40ft high, with sundials on the external walls; it originally housed a water-clock.
Around the top runs a frieze with reliefs representing the eight wind gods - the beardless Notos, pouring out rain from an urn (south); Lips, holding the stern ornament of a ship (southwest); Zephyros, a youth scattering flowers (west); Sykron the bringer of snow (northwest); the bearded Boreas, blowing into a shell (north); Kaikias, also bearded, the bringer of hail (northeast); Apeliotes, a young man bearing ears of corn and fruit (east); and Euros, wrapped in a cloak (southeast).
To the south of the tower is a building of the Roman period (first century A.D.) with the springing points of arches. Its function is uncertain (office of the market police, Caesareum?).
Adjoining the entrance to the excavated area is a marble latrine with seating for nearly 70.
The water-clock is located outside the western entrance to the Roman Market. It served as a form of meteorological station by combining a sundial, a waterclock and a weathervane showing the direction of the wind.
The clock is commonly known as "Aerides" (the winds).
Address: Eolou / Pepopida Street, Greece
Opening hours: 8:30am-3pm; Closed: Mon
Always closed on: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Greek National Day (Mar 25), May Day / Labor Day (May 1), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (Dec 26), Christmas - Christian (Dec 25), Easter - Christian, Good Friday - Christian
Entrance fee in EUR: Adult €2.00, Concession or reduced rate €1.00, Students from EU FREE, Child 18 & under FREE
Disability Access: Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Transit: Bus: 025 (Monastiraki); Electric Rail: Monastiraki.
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