The Academy was built at the expense of Baron Sina, a Greek banker established in Vienna. Th. von Hansen, the university architect's brother, gave it the appearance of an Ionic temple framed by two high columns surmounted by the statues of Apollo and Athena. This 19C construction built using Pentelikos white marble, along with the university (Panepistímio) and the national library (Ethniki Vivliothíki), forms an architectural set in neoclassical style with elegant although somewhat cold lines.