[Agora Webpage] Overview: The Site before Excavation

http://agathe.gr/overview/the_site_before_excavation.html

The Site before Excavation The Agora lies on sloping ground northwest of the Acropolis, below and east of the extraordinarily well-preserved Doric temple of Hephaistos, popularly known as the “Theseion” ... The Site before Excavation The Agora lies on sloping ground northwest of the Acropolis, below and east of the extraordinarily well-preserved Doric temple of Hephaistos, popularly known as the “Theseion” (a). ... The other ancient remains were not so well preserved, however, and their ruins lay as much as 8 meters below the modern surface, covered from the 10th century by an extensive neighborhood of private houses. ... In addition, as well as sharing all the logistical problems inherent in any large-scale urban excavation, the Agora site must be one of the few where a street and a railway divides the area of the excavations.

[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 16 2003: Boundary Stones and House of Simon the Cobbler

http://agathe.gr/guide/boundary_stones_and_house_of_simon_the_cobbler.html

Boundary Stones and House of Simon the Cobbler Inscribed marble posts were used to mark the entrances to the Agora wherever a street led into the open square. Two have been found in situ, inscribed with ... The limits of the square had to be well marked for two reasons. ... The evidence is circumstantial, but we may well have here the remains of one of Sokrates’ informal classrooms.

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: The Athenian Army

http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_athenian_army.html

The Athenian Army From the very beginning, the Athenians were compelled to fight for their new democracy. Their dramatic victories over the Boiotians and Chalkidians in 506 B.C. led many to attribute Athenian ... Recovered from a well in the northwest corner of the Agora, this lead strip carries an inscription recording the registration of a horse. On one side is the name of the owner, Konon; on the other a description of the horse, a chestnut, with a centaur brand, as well as its price, 700 drachmas. ... At the end of the year these records would become obsolete and could be reused or discarded, as in the case of this example found in a well. From the series of similar strips recovered in Athens we learn that the maximum assessment of a horse was 1,200 drachmas, well below the value of many horses and representing the maximum limit of the state's responsibility; the minimum amount was 500 drachmas.

[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 16 2003: Southwest Area

http://agathe.gr/guide/southwest_area.html

Southwest Area - Industry and Houses Leaving the area of the boundary stone, one can head southwest up a valley leading toward the Pnyx, meeting place of the Athenian assembly. Here are the complex remains ... The date, location, and plan are all appropriate, though the building may equally well have served some commercial function.

[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 16 2003: Middle Stoa

http://agathe.gr/guide/middle_stoa.html

Middle Stoa The appearance of the south side of the Agora was radically changed during the 2nd century B.C. with the construction of several new buildings. This South Square, as it is called, was made ... At just under 150 meters long, it is the largest building in the Agora, with colonnades at both north and south as well as down the middle.

[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 4 2004: The Agora and Pnyx

http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_agora_and_pnyx.html

The Agora and Pnyx Center of public activity, the Agora was a large open square where all the citizens could assemble (2, 3). It was used for a variety of functions: markets, religious processions, athletic ... Boundary stones, such as the one shown below (4), indicate that the Agora had well-recognized geographical limits. 2.

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Administration and Bureaucracy

http://agathe.gr/democracy/administration_and_bureaucracy.html

Administration and Bureaucracy The economy of Athens was supervised by numerous boards of officials in charge of the mint, the marketplace, weights and measures, and the grain and water supplies. Most ... According to ancient sources, sets of official weights and measures were kept in Athens as well as at Piraeus and Eleusis. ... The cylindrical shape is well adapted both for emptying and leveling off.

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Slaves and Resident Aliens

http://agathe.gr/democracy/slaves_and_resident_aliens.html

The Unenfranchised II - Slaves and Resident Aliens Also excluded from political participation were two other large segments of the population: slaves and metics (resident aliens). Slavery was common in ... With foreigners as with slaves, the Athenians were said to be more open than elsewhere: This, then, is why in the matter of free speech we have put slaves and free men on equal terms; we have also done the same for metics and citizens because the city needs metics because of the multiplicity of her industries and her fleet; that is why we were right to establish freedom of speech for metics as well. ("Xenophon," Constitution Of the Athenians 1.12). ... Exact figures are hard to come by; however, on any reckoning well under half the total adult population of the city participated in the Athenian democracy.