The Athenian Agora

The ancient Agora is located in the flat area to the north of the Acropolis. A good view can be obtained from the Areopagos hill, just west of the entrance to the Acropolis.

The Agora, which has been systematically excavated by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens since 1931, has a rich history and contains public buildings from many different periods.

It formed the political heart of the Classical city and many of the surviving monuments can be related directly to the workings of the democracy.

Here a brief chronological overview of the general development of the Agora will be given. More information on the individual buildings, their role in the political process and other functions can be found via the cross links.

The use of the area of the Agora can be traced back to at least the Late Bronze Age or Mycenaean period, when the area was used as a burial ground. Close to 50 tombs have been excavated, many of them belonging to the wealthy families that formed the upper echelons of Athenian society in the 14th and 13th centuries BC. The tombs cannot be visited, but models and a selection of the rich grave gifts are on display in the Agora Museum.

After the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization, during the so-called ‘Dark Ages’ (ca. 1100-800 BC), use of the area as a burial ground continued. The tombs were initially much poorer than those of the Mycenaean period, reflecting the impoverished conditions of the time. However, in the course of the period, especially in the 9th and 8th centuries BC, some families again acquired considerable wealth. This is illustrated by the exquisite pottery (with Geometric patterns) and weaponry from the ‘Warrior tomb’ (ca. 900 BC) and by the ceramic finds and fine jewelry from the tomb of the ‘Lady of the Areopagos’ (ca. 850 BC). At the same time the area of the later Agora seems to have been used for habitation, as can be inferred from the large number of ‘Dark Age’ wells. Each of these presumably indicates the presence of (a now lost) Dark Age house.

In the Archaic period (6th century BC) earlier houses and burial plots were abandoned and the area became known as the ‘place of assembly’ or ‘Agora’: a central square that served as political meeting place and market. Few buildings of the 6th century BC Agora are left to be seen, as they were largely destroyed and overbuilt in the 5th century BC. A large multi-room building (Building F, no longer visible), perhaps the mansion of the tyrant Peisistratos and his family, occupied the southwest corner. Around 550 BC, also in the time of Peisistratos, the Southeast Fountainhouse was constructed and the large Southwest Enclosure (the ‘Helaia’ or Aiakeion). Somewhat later are the Precinct of the Twelve Gods and the Great Drain, which runs along the western side of the Agora and still serves its purpose of carrying off excess rain water. There also were a number of small temples, dedicated to gods who were considered particularly important for the functioning of the government.

In 510 BC the period of tyranny came to an end with the expulsion of Hippias, the son and successor of Peisistratos. Soon after, in 508/7 BC, Kleisthenes proposed a new constitution, which was to form the basis of the Athenian democratic system. All Athenian free-born men were assigned to one of ten newly created tribes, each of which had 50 representatives in the ‘Boule’ or Senate. This means all citizens were represented and had an equal chance to become Senator themselves. The 500 senators served for one year and were supposed to meet in the Bouleterion (Senate House) every day. (Women were excluded, as were foreigners and slaves.)

The Archaic buildings in the Agora were almost completely destroyed during the Persian invasion of 480/479 BC. When the Athenians returned to their shattered city the Agora was one of the first areas to be rebuilt. Significant work was done in the years from 480 to 470 BC under the leadership of Kimon, son of Miltiades and himself an important general. In his time, a number of new buildings were erected in the Agora, such as the Tholos and the Painted Stoa. Kimon himself was responsible for the setting up of three Herms and for the beautification of the central part of the Agora by the planting of plane trees. These activities form the prelude to a ‘building boom’ that set in after ca. 450 BC. Athens was now at the height of her power: her democracy was developing, her overseas Empire expanding and, as the most important city-state of the Greek world, she was attracting throngs of scholars, artists, craftsmen and merchants. Much money was spent on the rebuilding of the sanctuaries that had been burned and looted by the Persians, both in Athens itself and in the rest of Attica. This went somewhat at the expense of building activities in the Agora. Nevertheless, though the Agora was no longer the prime focus, new buildings were added and old ones refurbished in the course of the 5th and the 4th centuries BC. These were concentrated along the east, south and west side, leaving the central area of the Agora open to provide space for gatherings, athletic contests and theatrical performances. The most important new constructions are, in chronological order, the Temple of Hephaistos and Athena, the State Prison, the New Bouleterion, the Stoa of Zeus, the Mint, the Temple of Apollo Patroos and the Monument of the Eponymous Heroes.

In the Hellenistic period (323-86 BC), and more specifically during the 2nd century BC, the lay-out and appearance of the Agora began to change. Athens in this period was no longer a major political or military power, but its glorious past and great cultural achievements of the Classical period were well remembered and admired. In the Hellenistic period Athens retained and further developed its fame as a center of learning, where philosophical schools and ‘academies’ flourished. These attracted kings and other notables from the great Hellenistic kingdoms in the Eastern Mediterranean. Many of these acted as benefactors to Athens and gave abundant money to build stoas, gymnasia and other public buildings. A clear example of such a foreign benefaction in the Agora is the Stoa of Attalos, king of Pergamon. Other additions to the Agora in this period include the South Square (consisting of South Stoa II and the Middle Stoa) and the Metroon.

Major destruction of the Agora took place in 86 BC by the Roman general Sulla. He had been sent to punish Athens for her support of the rebellion against Roman rule by king Mithridates of Pontus. Later in the 1st century BC relations with the Romans improved again and the Emperors resumed the tradition of Hellenistic benefactions to the city. In the Agora the Temple of Ares and the Odeion of Agrippa were built.

There are three entrances to the Agora: one on the north side from Adrianou (Hadrian’s Street, only a few minutes from the Monasteraki metro station), a second in the southeast from Vrisakiou Street (near the Church of the Ayioi Apostoloi) and a third from the west off Apostolou Pavlou (Apostle Paul Street, 5 to 10 minutes from the Theseion metro station).

The Agora and Agora Museum are open every day (except public holidays) from 8.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m in winter, and from 8 a.m. to at least 5 p.m. in summer. Telephone: 210 - 32 10 185

Ticket price: 12 € (6 € reduced) for access to the Agora and Agora Museum, Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, the South Slope with the Theater of Dionysos, the Roman Agora and Tower of the Winds, Kerameikos and the Olympieion.

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