The Ancient City of Athens: The Agora

The Agora

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This site was created for educational purposes by Kevin T. Glowacki. All content on this website (including text and photographs), unless otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

The Agora, the marketplace and civic center, was one of the most important parts of an ancient city of Athens. In addition to being a place where people gathered to buy and sell all kinds of commodities, it was also a place where people assembled to discuss all kinds of topics: business, politics, current events, or the nature of the universe and the divine. The Agora of Athens, where ancient Greek democracy first came to life, provides a wonderful opportunity to examine the commercial, political, religious, and cultural life of one of the great cities of the ancient world.

The earliest archaeological excavations in the Athenian Agora were conducted by the Greek Archaeological Society in the 19th century. Since 1931 and continuing to the present day, the excavations have been conducted by the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.

Browse the Image Catalogues (click on any thumbnail to view larger image).

Select Bibliography:

Athenian Agora Picture Books (American School of Classical Studies). Small booklets on various aspects of daily life in the commercial and political center of ancient Athens. The booklets can be purchased from the Publications office of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Low-resolution PDF files of the same booklets can also be downloaded for free. Visit the ASCSA Publications website for a complete list of titles and instructions on how to download and/or purchase these booklets as well as other ASCSA publications.
Camp, J. 1986. The Athenian Agora: Excavations in the Heart of Classical Athens, London.
Camp, J. 1990. The Athenian Agora: A Guide to the Excavations and Museum, 4th ed. revised, Athens.
Camp, J. 2003. The Athenian Agora: A Short Guide in Color (Agora Picture Book 16), Athens.
Thompson, H.A., and Wycherley, R.E. 1972. The Athenian Agora 14: The Agora of Athens, Princeton.
Wycherley, R.E. 1973. The Athenian Agora 3: The Literary and Epigraphical Testimonia, Princeton.

Recommended websites:

Short description of the Athenian Agora (Greek Ministry of Culture)
Athenian Agora Excavations (Agora Excavations). The official web site of the Agora Excavations of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Includes a brief overview and introduction to the history of the excavations, illustrated excavation reports (from 1996 on), an index and guide to the major buildings and features in the Agora, an interactive QuickTime Virtual Reality tour of the site and museum, and other resources. Slides Sets designed to accompany many of the Agora Picture Books can also be downloaded or purchased.
QTVR Panoramas of the Agora (Agora Excavations)
Article on Athens (including the Agora) (Perseus Digital Library).
Perseus Building Catalogue (Table of Contents) (Perseus Digital Library. Look for specific buildings and monuments in Athens).