Roman Market - Forum of Caesar and Augustus
The Agora of Caesar and Augustus, also known as the Roman Forum of Athens, was the commercial centre of the city during the roman period. In 51 BC the Athenians sent their envoy, Herod of Marathon, to Julius Caesar to ask for funds for a new market, since the need for public commercial space was urgent. Julius Caesar accepted to help financially, but due to political turmoil, the construction began and was completed under the emperor Augustus, between the years 19-11 BC.
The east wing of the peristyle as seen from the east.
| CREDITS: The models of the constructions are after the CAD plans by Chrysanthos Kanellopoulos, professor of Archaeology in the University of Athens and were created by Dimitris Tsalkanis for Ancient Athens 3d. |
The Forum was rectangular, measuring 111×98 metres approximately. The shape was irregular as the construction followed the course of pre-existing roads and city blocks that were demolished for its construction.
It was a building with a big central court surrounded by colonnades, where the merchants could set their benches. The stoas of the four sides housed more shops, while the eastern and western sides had a series of enclosed shops too. The peristyle was constructed of gray Hymettus marble, while the details, such as the capitals, the entablature etc, were made of white Pentelic marble. The central court was paved, probably during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD) and stands out for its colours, as it contains both of the above materials in zones. The Forum had two main entrances (propyla): the eastern and the western (Gate of Athena Archegetis).
The east wing of the peristyle as seen from the south west; In the background the east propylon and the Pantheon.
Interior view of the south colonnade.
View of the eastern collonade.
The south west corner of the compound seen from the north; in the background is the Acropolis.
View towards the west from within the Forum's square.
The south colonnade as it would have looked like from the north.
Gate of Athena Archegetis
The Gate of Athena Archegetis was the monumental entrance that connected the Roman Forum with the ancient Agora of Athens. It is located in the western part of the compound and is of doric order, constructed of Pentelic marble. In the center of the architrave exists an inscription in honour of the benefactors, Julius Caesar and Augustus:
| Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΑΠΟ ΤΩΝ ΔΟΘΕΙΣΩΝ ΔΩΡΕΩΝ ΥΠΟ ΓΑΙΟΥ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΟΣ ΘΕΟΥ ΥΙΟΥ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΑΘΗΝΑ ΑΡΧΗΓΕΤΙΔΙ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΥΝΤΟΣ ΕΠΙ ΤΟΥΣ ΟΠΛΙΤΑΣ ΕΥΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΜΑΡΑΘΩΝΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑΔΕΞΑΜΕΝΟΥ ΤΗΝ ΕΠΙΜΕΛΕΙΑΝ ΥΠΕΡ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΡΩΔΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΕΣΒΕΥΣΑΝΤΟΣ ΕΠΙ ΑΡΧΟΝΤΟΣ ΝΙΚΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΣΑΡΑΠΙΩΝΟΣ ΑΘΜΟΝΕΩΣ |
| The People of Athens, from the donations made by the god Gaius Julius Caesar and the his son the Emperor Caesar Augustus (dedicated this Gate) to Athena Archegetis, when Eukles of Marathon was general of the hoplites, who succeeded his father Herod in the responsibility (of this project) and as an envoy, in the year when Nikias son of Sarapion of Athmonon was Archon. |
The western propylon; the Gate of Athena Archegetis.
The Pantheon and the east propylon as seen from the west propylon.
The inner space of the west colonnade with the interior of the west propylon, as seen from the north.
The eastern propylon
The eastern entrance was in form of a propylon in Ionic order and made manly of gray marble from Hymettus mountain.
The eastern propylon.
The west propylon (of Archegetis) as seen from the east, ionic, propylon.
The eastern collonade with an interior view of the eastern propylon.
The interior space of the east wing of the colonnade and the inner part of the east propylon; view from the north.
The southern entrance and the fountain
In the southern side of the Forum, there was a fountain and next to it, a staircase leading to a small exit to the road south above. North of this exit, there was a door of a room which probably contained another staircase leading to the upper floor which served as a storage space.
The water fountain in the south colonnade and the stairs leading outside the Forum.
Interior view of the south colonnade, with the water fountain.
The door that probably led to the upper floor. In the background on the right is the exit staircase and the fountain.
View towards the west from within the Forum's square, from the southern collonade.
The interior space of the surrounding colonnade as seen from the south west corner.
The interior space of the east wing of the colonnade propylon; view from the north.
