Antique Agora

The ancient Agora is today the miraculously surviving ruins and structures, a shadowy reminder of the greatness of Athens.

The ancient Agora was of great importance to Athens, second only to the Acropolis. Active construction began on the site roughly in the 6th century B.C. A huge area of about 50,000 m2 was spread out on a gentle slope. It became the central public place which served for worshiping gods, trade, court and cultural life of the city.

Following in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks

The Agora was surrounded on three sides by a U-shaped portico. On the northwest side were the convention buildings (boulephtheion and tholos) and the temples. The cultic buildings were dedicated to Hephaestus, Apollo the Patron and the mother of the gods. Only the first of them survives to this day. The exact date of its construction is uncertain, but it is known that it was built on the site of another ruined sanctuary. In the upper part it is decorated with stone slabs with images of the feats of Hercules and Theseus. In the Temple of the God of Fire all 34 columns and the roof are miraculously preserved. The integrity of this most important monument of antiquity continues to sustain tourist interest in the Agora.

On the opposite side is another eye-catching structure - the Stoa Attala. It was named after the king who funded it. Thanks to the excellently preserved ruins it was completely reconstructed in the middle of the 20th century. Today there is a museum with ancient artifacts. The exhibits clearly illustrate life in ancient Greece since the 7th century B.C. They surprise not only ordinary tourists, but also connoisseurs of historical finds.

Through the entire Ancient Agora ran the wide Panathenaic road. This way the procession moved in the direction of the Acropolis during the Panathenaic festivities in honor of the goddess Athena. Even just walking along it, one could sense the magnitude of the solemn procession. It was attended by the respected people of the city and the common people. The procession ended with sacrifices and the laying of gifts on the altar of Athena.

In the ancient Agora there were also several important sanctuaries. The main one, the Altar of the Twelve Gods, was considered the central place of the square. Behind the statue of Hadrian was an altar dedicated to Zeus Agoraeus. Finally, in the northern part was the sanctuary of Aphrodite Urania. Each of these had more significance for the inhabitants of ancient Greece, who honored their gods.

Cultural events were always an integral part of Athenian life. Evidence of this is the Odeon of Agrippa, which is a two-story concert hall. Today, as you approach the place, you will see massive columns in the form of stone giants. It is none other than the entrance to the once dazzling 1,000-seat venue. After the roof collapsed, it was rebuilt into the Gymnasium of Agrippa. Thus the concert hall was converted into a lecture hall for the teaching of philosophy and other sciences.

The ruins of downtown Athens will tell you more than any books or movies. To touch antiquity means to see with your own eyes the proof of the former glory of Greece. The ancient Agora continues to hold the secrets of the past, buried under the ruins of religious buildings. Some of them will be revealed to you.