AGORA

WHAT WAS AGORA?

• THE AGORA WAS A CENTRAL SPOT IN

ANCIENT GREEK CITY-STATES. THE LITERAL MEANING
OF THE WORD IS "GATHERING PLACE" OR "ASSEMBLY".
ORIGIN
• EARLY IN GREEK HISTORY (18TH CENTURY–8TH CENTURY BC),
FREE-BORN CITIZENS WOULD GATHER IN THE AGORA FOR
MILITARY DUTY OR TO HEAR STATEMENTS OF THE RULING KING
OR COUNCIL. LATER, THE AGORA ALSO SERVED AS A
MARKETPLACE WHERE MERCHANTS KEPT STALLS OR SHOPS TO
SELL THEIR GOODS. THIS ATTRACTED ARTISANS WHO BUILT
WORKSHOPS NEARBY.
POSITION OF AGORA
• IT WAS PLACE TO BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM ALL
DIRECTIONS.
• IT WAS USUALLY LOCATED ON A FLAT GROUND FOR
EASE OF COMMUNICATION.
• IN MANY CITIES, IT IS ALSO LOCATED CLOSE TO THE
ACROPOLIS.
AGORA OF ATHENS
•  LOCATED TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE ACROPOLIS AND BOUNDED ON
THE SOUTH BY THE HILL OF THE AREOPAGUS AND ON THE WEST BY
THE HILL KNOWN AS THE AGORAIOS KOLONOS.
• THE AGORA WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT GATHERING PLACE IN A
GREEK CITY.
• IT STARTED AS AN OPEN AREA WHERE THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY
MET TO TAKE DECISIONS.
• A MARKET AND MEETING PLACE IN ANCIENT GREECE. THE
CENTER OF ATHENIAN TRADE.
• MERCHANTS SOLD THEIR GOODS FROM SMALL STANDS. LIKE
MOST CITY STATES, ATHENS DEVELOPED THEIR OWN COINS TO
MAKE TRADE EASIER.
• THE AGORA WAS THE CENTER OF ATHLETIC, ARTISTIC, SPIRITUAL
AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.