Ancient Agora

Right now you can see a glimpse of the Ancient Agora of Athens. You need to buy a ticket to visit it, but you can still admire a small part of it from the outside. It’s a major archaeological site right in the city center. It was the central square of Athens back in ancient times, with an important role in the economic, social, political and commercial life of the city. It dates back to the 6th century BC and today it’s home to some of Athens’ most famous landmarks. Among them are the Temple of Hephaestus, considered to be the best-preserved temple of Antiquity, and the Stoa of Attalos, the remains of an ancient commercial centre built in the 2nd century BC. Needless to say, it looked nothing like today’s shopping malls! At the time, shops were set up in wooden stalls, where traders served their customers. In addition to being a bustling marketplace, the Agora was also where Athenians met to chat. The wealthiest of citizens gathered here to discuss politics. Picture Socrates, Plato and all the great philosophers of the time debating and bargaining right here, on these very stones that are over 2,600 years old! The Agora also hosted all important citizen assemblies where major political decisions were taken. There were also nine temples back then, where people came to pray. While most of the Ancient Agora is in ruins today, it’s definitely worth a visit! After all, it was the beating heart of Athens in ancient times.