Athens – The Homeland of the Gods: Ancient Agora

The agora is the meeting place for the people in ancient time. It literally means 'market.' Hence, the role of an agora is similar to our city centre which is the hub of administrative and political proceedings as well as commercial and social activities.

Ancient Agora is situated at the foothill northwest of the Acropolis. It is just within walking distance and can be visited together with the Acropolis. In fact the entrance ticket to Acropolis is inclusive of entrance to Ancient Agora. I need to emphasize that every ticket that you buy has four counterfoils, allowing you four entrances to these two sights.

The first enormous building in sight at the eastern edge of Ancient Agora is the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos. It was build as a 'shopping centre' for the leisure of the wealthy Athenians. It is now the Agora Museum displaying the collections of finds from the archaeological site.

The two-storey Stoa of Attalos.

The long corridor of the Stoa of Attalos.

An earthen ware with carvings on display at the Agora Museum.

A typical plate in black with human figure, probably modelled after the Chinese wok.

This is probably a mobile stove. A smaller version could be a censer for burning the incense.

The compound of the archaeological site is not very big, probably just around 200 m by 200 m, but quite a lot of remains can be found around here.

Two remaining columns with human figure.

Another main monument inside the Ancient Agora is the Temple of Hephaestus at the western edge. It was built for the god of forge, Hephaestus, and hence it was surrounded by foundries and metalwork shops.

An overview of the Temple of Hephaestus.

The front of the Temple of Hephaestus. I think most of the people would mistakenly recognise it as the Parthenon.

This is the fresco at the entrance to the inner hall of the Temple of Hephaestus.

There is a small little Church of the Holy Apostles inside Ancient Agora which is of equal prominence to the two gigantic monuments. This church was built to commemorate St. Paul's teaching in Ancient Agora.

The cute little Church of the Holy Apostles under golden light.

One of the Byzantine frescoes found inside the church.

This is the main dome of the church featuring the painting of Christ.

If you would like to read more of my travelogues on Greece, here are the links:-

1. Athens – The Homeland of the Gods

• Acropolis
• Ancient Agora
• National Archaeological Museum
• Exposé at the Parliament Building
• Neoclassical Trilogy
• The Walking Tour
• The Graffiti
• The Central Market
• Panoramic View

2. The White Dream in Mykonos

• Whitewashed Cube Houses
• Stairways to Heaven
• Barricades in Paradise
• Sea Breeze
• Wind Riders
• With a Little Bit of Red
• Roaming the Streets
• The Holy Ground
• When the Sun is Going Down
• I've Been to Paradise

3. Santorini – Almost Heaven

• Roaming Around the Streets of Fira
• Gazing at the Sea in Fira
• The Southern Crosses in Fira
• The Golden Hour at Fira
• Fira Sunset and After Dark
• Strolling the Streets in Oia
• The Cliffs and the Sea in Oia
• The Domes and the Bells in Oia
• The Barriers in Oia
• The Sunset at Oia
• The Volcano at Nea Kameni
• The Black-sand Beach of Kamari
• Ancient Thira

4. Miscellaneous

• Piraeus – Tinos – Mykonos
• Delos – The Open Air Museum on an Island
• From Mykonos to Thira
• Nuts about Kebab
• Patras