Roman Agora, Athens, Greece

The original Roman Agora was encroached upon and obstructed by a series of Roman buildings, beginning with the imperial family's gift to the Athenians of a large odeion (concert hall). The Odeon of Agrippa was built by him in around 15 BC, and measured 51.4 by 43.2 metres, rose several stories in height, and – being sited just north of the Middle Stoa – obstructed the old agora. In return for the odeion, the Athenians built a statue to Agrippa at the site of the previous agora; they based it on a plinth recycled from an earlier statue by covering the old inscription with a new one.

After the invasion of the Herulae in AD 267 the city of Athens was restricted to the area within the Late Roman fortification wall, and the administrative and commercial centre of the city was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian.

During the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation the area was covered with houses, workshops and churches along with the Fethiye Mosque.

Buildings and structures

The Tower of the Winds is an octagonal Pentelic marble clocktower that functioned as a horologion or 'timepiece'. It is considered the world's first meteorological station. The structure features a combination of sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane. It was supposedly built by Andronicus of Cyrrhus around 50 BC, but according to other sources, might have been constructed in the 2nd century BC before the rest of the forum.

The Gate of Athena Archegetis is considered to be the second most prominent remain in the site after the Tower of the Winds. Constructed in 11 BCE by donations from Julius Caesar and Augustus, the gate was made of 4 Doric columns and a base of Pentelic marble. It was a monument dedicated by the Athenians to their patroness Athena Archegetis.

The East Propylon is the eastern entrance of the Roman Agora in Athens. Built in 19-11 BCE, it constituted of 4 Ionic columns made of gray Hymettian marble.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Amraz (6 months ago)
Visited as part of a combination ticket that included this location. Interesting and well preserved and relatively quiet.

Highway Video (8 months ago)
This historic site in the city's heart offers a fascinating glimpse into ancient Roman life. Highlights included the majestic Gate of Athena Archegetis and the Tower of the Winds. It's a must-see for anyone interested in history and archaeology. However, I believe there are even better historic sites in Athens to visit.

Becky Marchant (8 months ago)
The acropolis is as spectacular as you have imagined! Make sure to visit in the early morning or later afternoon to avoid the crowds and the heat. Download a guide to get an even better experience as you view the different areas of the hilltop.

Sarish Mohar (9 months ago)
The only value I see in coming here is for 1-2 nice gram shots. No explanation or information about what you’re seeing and the ruins are very underwhelming . For £8 - I wouldn’t , maybe just go if you bought the combo ticket anyway but I wouldn’t say it’s a must visit

Kamila Wojciechowicz-Krauze (10 months ago)
The Roman Forum is an exceptional place, with a perfectly preserved Tower of the Winds. It is very close to Plaka, which makes the area picturesque, and there’s a mosque which you can enter only if you buy a ticket to the forum. I recommend checking out the forum.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Zvonimir Hrvoj

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus

The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.

The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.

The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.

Roman Agora

Buildings and structures

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Church of St Donatus