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The Ancient Agora of Athens is the most well-known example of agora, located in Athens, Greece.

View of the ancient agora. The temple of Hephaestus is to the left and the Stoa of Attalos to the right

The agora in Athens had private housing, until it was reorganized by Peisistratus in the 6th century BC. Although he may have lived on the agora himself, he removed the other houses, closed wells, and made it the centre of Athenian government. He also built a drainage system, fountains and a temple to the Olympian gods. Cimon later improved the agora by constructing new buildings and planting trees. In the 5th century BC there were temples constructed to Hephaestus, Zeus and Apollo.

The Areopagus and the assembly of all citizens met elsewhere in Athens, but some public meetings, such as those to discuss ostracism, were held in the agora. Beginning in the period of the radical democracy (after 509 BC), the Boule, or city council, the Prytaneis, or presidents of the council, and the Archons, or magistrates, all met in the agora. The law courts were located there, and any citizen who happened to be in the agora when a case was being heard, could be forced to serve as a juror; the Scythian archers, a kind of mercenary police force, often wandered the agora specifically looking for jurors.

The agora in Athens again became a residential area during Roman and Byzantine times.

Plan showing major buildings and structures of the agora of Athens as it was in the 5th century BC

1. Peristylar Court
2. Mint
3. Enneacrounos
4. South stoa
5. Heliaea
6. Strategeion
7. Colonos Agoraios
8. Tholos
9. Agora stone
10. Monument of the Eponymous Heroes
11. Metroon (Old Bouleuterion)
12. New Bouleuterion
13. Temple of Hephaestus (Hephaestion)
14. Temple of Apollo Patroos
15. Stoa of Zeus
16. Altar of the Twelve Gods
17. Stoa Basileios (Royal stoa)
18. Temple of Aphrodite Urania
19. Stoa of Hermes
20. Stoa poikile

A number of buildings were added to the agora. Those in place by the 2nd century included:

• The Middle stoa which sat across the sanctuary, infront of the Heliaea.
• A small Roman temple was added in front of the Middle stoa.
• An Altar of Zeus Agoraios was added just to the east of the Monument to the Eponymous Heroes.
• The Temple of Ares was added in the north half agora, just south of the Altar of the Twelve Gods.
• The Odeon of Agrippa and accompanying gymansium were added in the centre of the agora.
• The substantial Stoa of Attalos was built along the eastern edge of the agora.
• A collection of buildings were added to the south-east corner: the East stoa, the Library of Pantainos, the Nimphaeum and a temple.

The modern excavation of the agora in Athens began in part under the direction of T. Leslie Shear, Sr. of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens. They continue to the present day, now under the direction of John McK Camp.[1]

After the initial phase of excavation, in the 1950's, part of the agora was landscaped and the Stoa of Attalos was rebuilt to serve as museum and work space - it now houses all the finds from the site.[2]

Remains of the Forum built in Athens in the Roman period (east of the classical agora)

Remains of the west gate into the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum of Athens is located to the north of the acropolis and to the east of the original classical Greek agora.

• Tower of the Winds
• Gate of Athena Archegetis
• East Propylon
• Fethiye Djami
• Agoranomion
• Vespasianae (latrines)

• Hellenic Ministry of Culture: The Ancient Agora of Athens - official site with a schedule of its opening hours, tickets and contact information.
• Agora Excavations - American School of Classical Studies Agora excavation project.
• Map of the Agora of Athens in Socrates and Plato's time
• Agora of Athens in 421 BC

v • d • e Landmarks of Athens

Academy · Acropolis · Ancient Agora  · Arch of Hadrian  · Areopagus  · Monument of Lysicrates  · Hellenic Parliament  · Kerameikos  · Lycabettus Hill  · Monastiraki  · Kapodistrian University of Athens  · National Archaeological Museum  · National Gardens  · National Library of Greece  · National Theatre  · New Acropolis Museum  · Odeon of Herodes Atticus  · Old Parliament House  · Olympic Sports Complex  · Panathinaiko Stadium  · Philopappos Hill/Monument  · Plaka  · Pnyx  · Presidential Palace  · Stoa of Attalos  · Temple of Hephaestus  · Temple of Olympian Zeus  · Theatre of Dionysus  · Tower of the Winds  · Zappeion

Coordinates: 37°58′30″N, 23°43′21″E