Ancient Agora of Athens

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Remains of the agora built in Athens in the Roman period (east of the classical agora).

The Ancient Agora of Athens is the most well-known agora, located in Athens, Greece.

The agora in Athens had private housing, until it was reorganized by Pisistratus in the 6th century BC. Although he may have lived on the agora himself, he removed the other houses, closed wells, and made it the centre of Athenian government. He also built a drainage system, fountains, and a temple to the Olympian gods. Cimon later improved the agora by constructing new buildings and planting trees. In the 5th century BC there were temples constructed to Hephaestos, Zeus, and Apollo.

The Areopagus and the assembly of all citizens met elsewhere in Athens, but some public meetings, such as those to discuss ostracism, were held in the agora. Beginning in the period of the radical democracy (after 509 BC), the Boule, or city council, the Prytaneis, or presidents of the council, and the Archons, or magistrates, all met in the agora. The law courts were located there, and any citizen who happened to be in the agora when a case was being heard, could be forced to serve as a juror; the Scythian archers, a kind of mercenary police force, often wandered the agora specifically looking for jurors.

The agora in Athens again became a residential area during Roman and Byzantine times. It would also be a meeting place for slaves and their masters. You could also hire prostitutes and other people involved with selling their bodies for rent.

Remains of the west gate into the Roman period agora.

[edit] Excavations

The modern excavation of the agora in Athens began in part under the direction of T. Leslie Shear, Sr. and continue to the present day, now under the direction of John McK Camp.[1][2]. The American School of Classical Studes at Athens holds the permit and carries out the excavations[3].

[edit] External links and references

• Hellenic Ministry of Culture: The Ancient Agora of Athens - official site with a schedule of its opening hours, tickets and contact information.
• Agora Excavations - American School of Classical Studies Agora excavation project.
• Map of the Agora of Athens in Socrates and Plato's time
• Ancient Agora Photographs