Tower of the Winds

The Tower of the Winds, an ancient clock of Athens

The Tower of the Winds is a remarkable ancient building of the Roman Agora of Athens, which served as a clock. The Athens audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this octagonal monument, a witness of the scientific genius of Antiquity.

The clock of Andronikos

The Tower of the Winds, also called the clock of Andronikos, is an octagonal marble building, erected in Antiquity within the Roman Agora. Each of its eight faces, oriented towards a cardinal point, is adorned with a relief representing a wind. It combined sundials, a weathervane and a water clock, which makes it a remarkable testimony of the scientific and technical genius of ancient Greece.

What to see

You admire the octagonal marble building, its reliefs representing the winds and its ingenious time-measuring device, within the Roman Agora. The Tower of the Winds illustrates the scientific genius of Antiquity. It is a stop for lovers of history and ancient sciences, in the heart of Athens.

Practical information

The Tower of the Winds lies within the Roman Agora, at the foot of the Acropolis, near Plaka, reachable on foot. Its visit is done with that of the Roman Agora, with a fee and according to its own hours, which vary. It is best to check the arrangements before coming.

What was the Tower of the Winds for?

It served as an ancient clock and weather station, combining sundials, a weathervane and a water clock, adorned with reliefs representing the winds.

Where is the Tower of the Winds?

Within the Roman Agora, at the foot of the Acropolis, near Plaka.