AGORA, History

Hi, my name’s Jill, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: the Agora, the ancient square in Athens that was the cradle of Greek democracy during the Classical Period.

You may have heard of the Agora as the birthplace of democracy, where philosophers used to stroll around discussing their ideas, so the initial impact as you enter the archeological area might be a bit of a disappointment, because all you can see is a sort of huge garden without easily identifiable buildings. As you walk amid the ruins, however, a little imagination is all it takes to realize how complex its function was, and how bustling with activity it must have been.

The Greek term “agora” has multiple meanings, all of them linked to a space in which common activities are carried out: agora means gathering place, assembly; it was the place where the market was held, the place where citizens came together to listen to the orators and to deliberate on public affairs, the place where trials were held. It was the heart of everyday life in the city.

The huge building with columns at the entrance on your left is a stoa, or portico, but it’s a questionable modern reconstruction that houses the Agora Museum, and I’ll be talking about it in the last file. ...