Brief overview of the history of the Agora of Athens

1. THE AGORA

2. A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ATHENIAN AGORA

3. A QUICK HISTOTY
 1600 and 1100 BCE
 Used as a burial ground
 6th Century BCE
 Began transformation into Athenian public space as public buildings and workshops were developed
 520 BCE
 Altar of Twelve Gods constructed
 508-507 BCE
 Old Bouleuterion built, and Agora boundaries established
 6th Century – 1st Century BCE
 A political, cultural and economic hub of Athens
 480 BCE
 Earliest buildings of Agora destroyed by Persian invaders
 450 BCE
 Temple of Hephaestus built
 Later History: Connected with Roman Agora, destroyed by multiple invasions, Roman gymnasium built over the
top of some ruins, buildings converted (e.g. Temple of Hephaestus converted to Byzantine church), excavations
(1931)

5. THE AGORA
 Built on flat ground, easily accessible from both the city, farmlands and the
port
 Conformed with existing ancient roads with, importantly, the Panathenaic
way connecting to the Dipylon Gate (the main gate of the defensive wall)
with the Acropolis
 Heart of government and law systems
 Temples present for worshippers
 Marketplace
 Orators and Philosophers gathered to share thoughts; Politicians gathered to
work on proposals
 Once per year, the Panathenaic festival united the Athenians in celebration
and solemn procession through the Agora toward the Acropolis.

6. REFERENCES
 http://www.ancient.eu/timeline/agora/
 http://ancient-greece.org/history/agora.html