Alaric in Athens

Why it's great

The Visigoth king Alaric enters Athens in 396 AD, and the city's people stand before him in fear. Ludwig Thiersch painted this scene of the later fall of the classical world in 1879.

🏛️ Part of history

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire (312–476) — The Visigoth king Alaric enters Athens in 396 AD, and the city's people stand before him in fear.

Where to see it

📍 Location not recordedWe couldn't confirm where it hangs today. Museums sometimes move or lend paintings, so check the museum's website before you travel.

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 1,110 × 611 px · 0.7 megapixels This is the largest scan on Wikimedia Commons, which is fairly small for a big print. The museum that owns it may offer a larger one. File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

Ludwig Thiersch

1825–1909 · born in Munich

Ludwig Thiersch was a German painter born in Munich in 1825. He lived mostly in Munich and painted religious and historical pictures, spending some time in Greece, which inspired his scenes of the ancient world. He died in Munich in 1909.