 It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the "adventus" (arrival) of the Roman emperor Hadrian and to honour him for his many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD.It is not certain who commissioned the arch, although it is probable that the citizens of Athens.There were two inscriptions on the arch, facing in opposite directions, naming both Theseus and Hadrian as founders of Athens.