Hellenistic Agora (323-86 BC)
The Agora of Athens has always been the heart of the city that served almost all of its functions. For this reason there were frequent changes of its design and construction of new buildings, depending on the needs of each era. The 4th century BC was a transitional stage towards the final formation of the Hellenistic form of the Agora, based on the standards of the time.
View towards the southeast. On the left is the Stoa of Attalos and on the right, the Middle Stoa. In the background the Acropolis.
The Agora in the 4th and 3rd century BC
At the beginning of the Hellenistic era some small buildings were constructed as Athens struggled to reach its former glory. For the first time after the destruction of the city by the Persians in 480 BC, the temple of Patroos Apollo was rebuilt. A big square peristyle building was constructed in the east side on the spot of the previous open-air courthouse. Also, the Athenians built a new fountain house west of the Aiakeion and the monument of the Eponymous Heroes was transferred in front of the Bouleuterion.
The Agora in the 4th century BC:
1. Square Peristyle, 2. Poikile Stoa, 3. Altar of the 12 Gods, 4. Royal Stoa, 5. Stoa of Zeus Eleutherios, 6. temple of Patroos Apollo, 7. Temple of Hephaestos, 8. Old Bouleuterion, 9. New Bouleuterion, 10. Tholos, 11. Southwest Fountain House, 12. The Aiakeion, 13 South Stoa, 14 Southeast Fountain House, 15 the Mint.
The Square Peristyle on the northeast of the Agora. The construction begun around 300 BC but was never completed. The part that was completed was used as a courthouse. It was demolished in 150 BC to build the Stoa of Attalos in the same place. Its parts were mainly used to construct the South Stoa II.
The temple of Patroos Apollo was built in the place of an older archaic temple. The smaller temple next to it and the altar was dedicated to Zeus Phratrios and Athena.
A ionic stoa was added in front of the new Bouleuterion during the 4th c. BC.
The monument of the Eponymous Heroes was earlier located a little more to the south. It hold the statues of the ten heroes who gave the names to the ten tribes of Athens. Under each statue, on the base, were engraved the names of each tribe’s most important citizens.
The “L”-shaped southwest fountain was built between 350-325 BC and probably was the biggest fountain house of the city, as it had a reservoir surface of around 100 square metres.
During that time, the Aiakeion was transformed into a peristyle building with a series of rooms in the east side and was soon used to store grain.
The Agora of Athens in the 2nd century BC
During the 2nd century BC the Agora was significantly transformed with the addition of new big Stoas which dominated the place. These stoas were all donations of Hellenistic Kings and decisively changed the plan of the site to look more like the agoras of the newest cities of the Hellenistic kingdoms.
A top view of the Hellenistic Agora. 1. Stoa of Attalos, 2. Arsenal, 3. Metroon, 4. Middle Stoa, 5. South Stoa II, 6. East Building
The Stoa of Attalos (159-138 BC)
The Stoa of Attalos was a donation by the King of Pergamon, Attalos II (159 – 138 BC) as an inscription on the entablature proves. It was two-storied, of Doric order, and was 120 metres long with 45 columns in the western side. In the Eastern one, it had 21 rooms that were used as shops. In noth and south ends staircases led to the second floor.
The Stoa was destroyed by the Heruli in 267 AD and became a part of the postherulian wall of Athens. The remaining structural materials were used for the construction of the two medieval towers in the Propylaia of Acropolis. The Stoa was completely restored between 1953-1956 by the American School of Classical Studies in order to accomodate the Museum of Ancient Agora.
The Stoa of Attalos from the west. On the right, the Middle Stoa.
The Stoa of Attalos from the southwest.
In front of the Stoa of Attalos stood a pedestal with a four horse chariot, probably dedicated by Attalos himself. Later it was rededicated to the Roman Emperor Tiberius. In front of it was the bema, or speaker's platform. From there speakers and the politicians used to speak to the Athenian people.
South Stoas
Middle Stoa (c.180 BC)
The Middle Stoa was constructed in around 180 BC. It could be possible that it was a gift to the city by the king of Pontus Pharnaces I. It was the biggest building of the Agora, measuring 147 metres long and 17.5 m. wide. It had 160 Doric columns all around and was separated in the interior by 23 Ionic columns. It was completely destroyed by fire during the raid of Heruli in 267 AD. South Stoa II (c.150 BC) The South Stoa II (c. 150 AD) was built from the materials of the unfinished Square Peristylion, which was demolished in order to build the Stoa of Attalos in its place. It was a simple stoa with thirty Doric columns in its northern side, while a small fountain stood in the southern wall. It was destroyed during the siege laid by the Roman general Sylla in 86 BC. On its ruins marble workers and ironworkers settled their industries by using the ruins. During the reign of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD), these industries were removed and the site was cleaned. A building (Eastern Building) linked the Eastern end of the South Stoa II and the Middle Stoa, creating an enclosed space which served as a commercial market.
Panoramic view of the group of southern stoas. On the left, is the Middle Stoa and opposite of it is South Stoa II. Above left is the conjunctive East Building, while on the right is the rectangular Aiakeion next to the Southwest fountain.
View from the space between the two stoas. In the middle is the Eastern Building, on the left is the Middle Stoa and on the right the South Stoa II.
View of the interior of the Middle Stoa.
The western side of the Agora
Works in a smaller scale were also realised in the western part of the Agora. The Old Bouleuterion was demolished giving its place to a bigger building, the Metroon (c.130 BC). In the Metroon were kept the official documents of the city. It had many rooms and in one of them was the sanctuary of the Mother of the Gods, as a memory of the archaic temple (Metroon) that was destroyed by the Persians. Also, the Royal Stoa acquired two small wings in both of its ends, for the placement of the slabs with the laws. Finally, north of the Temple of Hephaistos, a big rectangular building was erected which probably served as an Arsenal.
The west side of the Agora. The ionic building on the left is the Metroon. On the hill, next to the temple of Hephaistos is the Arsenal.
The Metroon (c.130 BC) with the Ionic Propylon (entrance) on the left.
This big building next to the Temple of Hephaistos is considered to have been an Arsenal due to its similarity to the Philon's Arsenal, which served as an Armoury.
The Royal Stoa with the two new wings. In between stood a big statue of Themis, goddess related to justice.
