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The Agora
was the heart of ancient Athens, the focus of political,
commercial, administrative and social activity, the
religious and cultural centre, and the seat of justice.
The site
was occupied without interruption in all periods of the
city's history. It was used as a residential and burial
area as early as the Late Neolithic period (3000 B.C.).
Early in the 6th century, in the time of Solon, the
Agora became a public area.
After a series of repairs and remodellings, it reached
its final rectangular form in the 2nd century B.C.
Extensive building activity occured after the serious
damage made by the Persians in 480/79 B.C., by the
Romans in 89 B.C. and by the Herulae in A.D. 267 while,
after the Slavic invasion in A.D. 580, It was gradually
abandoned. From the Byzantine period until after 1834,
when Athens became the capital of the independent Greek
state, the Agora was again developed as a residential
area.
The first excavation campaigns were carried out by the
Greek Archaeological Society in 1859-1912, and by the
German Archaeological Institute in 1896-97. In 1890-91,
a deep trench cut for the Athens-Peiraeus Railway
brought to light extensive remains of ancient buildings.
In 1931 the American School of Classical Studies started
the systematic excavations with the financial support of
J. Rockefeller and continued until 1941. Work was
resumed in 1945 and is still continuing. In order to
uncover the whole area of the Agora it was necessary to
demolish around 400 modern buildings covering a total
area of ca. 12 hectares.
In the 19th century the four colossal figures of Giants
and Tritons at the facade of the Gymnasium were restored
by the Greek Archaeological Society. In the years
1953-56, the Stoa of Attalos was reconstructed to become
a museum and in the same period the Byzantine church of
Aghioi Apostoloi, built around A.D. 1000, was restored
by the American School. Between 1972 and 1975,
restoration and preservation work was carried out at the
Hephaisteion; the area was cleared of the vegetation,
and the roof of the temple was repaired in 1978 by the
Archaeological Service.
Temple of Hephaistos
The temple, known as the "Theseion", is Doric,
peripteral, with a pronaos and opisthodomos.
Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios
The stoa was erected at the end of the 5th century B.C.
in honor of those who fought for the freedom and
security of the city. Socrates is said to have met his
friends in this stoa.
Bouleuterion
The Council of 500 (Boule) held its regular meetings
here. The building was erected at the end of the 5th
century B.C. replacing the Old Bouleuterion, the ruins
of which were found beneath the Metroon.
Metroon. The building has an Ionic propylon and was
erected in the 2nd century B.C.
Monument of the Eponymous Heroes
Remains of an oblong pedestal enclosed by a fence. It
supported the bronze statues of the legendary heroes who
gave their names to the ten tribes of Attica.
Altar of the Twelve Gods
Fenced area with an altar at the centre, onstructed in
522/21 B.C. The sanctuary was a popular place of asylum
and was considered to be the heart of the city, the
central milestone from which distances to other places
were measured.
The Odeion of Agrippa
It was built by Agrippa in 15 B.C. and comprised an
auditorium with a seating capacity of about 1000 people,
and a two-storeyed portico.
The Royal Stoa (Stoa Basileios)
Built around 460 B.C., it was the seat of the Royal
Archon (Archon Basileus). In this stoa the laws of Solon
were displayed, and the Council of the Aeropagus held
its meetings.
Tholos
Circular building erected in ca. 460 B.C. The chairmen
(prytaneis) of the Council of 500 (Boule) dined and
spent the night in the Tholos so as to be available if
necessary. |
