Return to Home Page Harrys Greece Guide

The Athenian Agora Intro Page 5

columnsmapIn the Hellenistic period (323-86 BC), and more specifically during the 2nd century BC, the lay-out and appearance of the Agora began to change.

Athens in this period was no longer a major political or military power, but its glorious past and great cultural achievements of the Classical period were well remembered and admired.

 

In the Hellenistic period Athens retained and further developed its fame as a center of learning, where philosophical schools and ‘academies’ flourished.

These attracted kings and other notables from the great Hellenistic kingdoms in the Eastern Mediterranean. Many of these acted as benefactors to Athens and gave abundant money to build stoas, gymnasia and other public buildings.

A clear example of such a foreign benefaction in the Agora is the Stoa of Attalos, king of Pergamon. Other additions to the Agora in this period include the South Square (consisting of South Stoa II and the Middle Stoa) and the Metroon.

Major destruction of the Agora took place in 86 BC by the Roman general Sulla. He had been sent to punish Athens for her support of the rebellion against Roman rule by king Mithridates of Pontus. Later in the 1st century BC relations with the Romans improved again and the Emperors resumed the tradition of Hellenistic benefactions to the city. In the Agora the Temple of Ares and the Odeion of Agrippa were built.

More The Athenian Agora Intro Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Pressed for time in Athens?

greece sites sights map

There are many ways to see Athens and Attika's famous sites but when you are in a hurry private Taxi tours is the way to go!

Athens, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
READ TESTIMONIALS

E-mail for prices and availibility