Agora Museum: Word to the Wise

Category: Agora Museum
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

The collection is arranged chronologically, with the oldest artifacts near the entrance and the newest near the exit.

Like the agora, the Agora Museum requires some kind of guide—person, book, or audio—to make sense of the artifacts on display. If you don’t know P1010282what you’re looking at, if you can’t listen to the stories and understand the history, you won’t get much from a visit here. There is the occasional wall text and informative caption available in the museum, but you can’t count on these to tell the whole story.

You should devote at least half an hour to this collection. With the right information, you can profitably spend an hour or two.

You will be asked to check larger rucksacks and bags before entering the museum. The check room is located at the southern end of the Stoa of Attalos.

Water fountain and restrooms are located in the Stoa of Attalos—on the north end. Although there are no benches in the museum itself, you can step out into the Stoa for a rest-break on one of the benches located along the central spine of columns.

Videos and photos are allowed inside the museum. But, please, no flash or artificial lighting.

Kylix (with woman offering sacrifice) Aphrodite with an Attitude Head ofNike The Democracy Decree Klepsydra (Water Clock--for timing speeches) Nymph with water jar Agora boundary marker Ostraka (with Themistocles' name) Apollo Patroos Baby's potty chair
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Agora Museum: Accessibility

Category: Agora Museum
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

handicapped black2handicapped black2handicapped black2handicapped grey1

 

The only accessibility challenge with the Agora Museum is getting to it. [Read the post on Agora: Accessibility which outlines a few accessibility issues to be aware of when visiting this site.] There is a paved path from the entrance of the Agora site to the Stoa of Attalos. A wooden ramp gives wheelchair access up to the Stoa itself.

Once in the Stoa, the floor is smooth and level. Benches in the Stoa permit visitors to rest and catch their breath and, especially on hot summer days, enjoy respite from the sun. There are handicapped stalls in the restroom, although you are required to negotiate a step to reach them.

The museum itself is all on one level and does not require visitors to negotiate any steps. Because the museum is small and narrow, crowds can pose a problem. During peak hours, getting around in a wheel chair or with a cane/walker can be a challenge. Visiting early or late in the day will help you avoid the worst of the crowds.

Ostraka (with Themistocles' name) Kleroterion Arybalos Aphrodite Klepsydra (Water Clock--for timing speeches) Kylix (with woman offering sacrifice) Aphrodite with an Attitude Stoa of Attalos Head ofNike Apollo Patroos
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Agora: Word to the Wise

Category: Agora
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

1138-1b_0118More than most sites in Athens, the agora requires some kind of guide: person, book, or audio. If you don’t know what you’re looking at, if you can’t listen to the stories and understand the history, you won’t get much from a visit here.

With a guide, you should plan on spending at least an hour at the agora. I’ve spent half a day here and enjoyed every minute. The more you know (or, at least, the more your guide knows), the more enjoyable your time here will be.

You will be asked to check larger rucksacks and bags either at the ticket booth or (more likely) at the Stoa of Attalos.

Wear comfortable shoes with firm ankle support. Much of your walking will be “off trail” on this site, so watch your step carefully. It would be easy to turn an ankle or take a tumble here.

Water fountain and restrooms are located in the Stoa of Attalos—on the north end.

Videos and photos are allowed throughout the site. Because of the poor state of preservation of many of the buildings here, good lighting will be crucial to good pictures. Try to come in the morning or evening to get shadow lines and some contrast in your photos.

Monument of the Eponymous Heroes Aphrodite Apollo Patroos Hephaesteon by night The Hephaesteon by night02 Nymph with water jar The sad state of most of the Agora structures Head ofNike Agora from Hephaesteon
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Agora: Why Go There?

Category: Agora
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

P1010229Although there’s not a lot to see now, the agora is arguably the most important site in Athens. This was the beating heart of Athens’ social, commercial, legal, political, and (in many ways) religious activities. Athenians visited the Acropolis … the agora is where they lived.

You want to visit the agora because:

  • Many famous people also visited here: philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Zeno; politicians like Pericles, Kimon, Solon; generals like Themistocles, Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great; speakers like Demosthenes and Cicero; religious figures like the Apostle Paul.
  • Important events transpired here: several of Socrates’ “Dialogues”; the trial of Socrates; the beginning of the Stoic school of philosophy; the reign of the Tyrants; publication of Solon’s reforms; the intimate workings of Athenian democracy; the preaching of Paul.
  • Some of the most important structures in Athenian life were built here: the senate house; the records hall; the archon’s offices; eight stoae (for shopping and meetings); temples; a theater; the city “bema” (or speakers’ podium—the equivalent of the rostrum in Rome); the Panathenaic Way.
  • One of the best (albeit small) museums in Athens is sited here.
  • The restored Stoa of Attalos gives you a sense of the sophistication and power of the Athenians and what the agora would have looked like in the day.
  • The Hephaestion is one of the most inspiring sights in Athens.
Hephaesteon by night Nymph with water jar Aphrodite Hephaesteon by night02 Agora from Hephaesteon Hephaesteon Stoa of Attalos Interior Statute of Hadrian Stoa of Attalos Detail of Hephaesteon (Minataurs driving man into the ground with boulders)
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Agora: What Will I See?

Category: Agora
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

Agora from HephestionFrankly, with a few notable exceptions, there’s not much left to see at the agora site.

Many of the agora structures are in a very poor state of preservation. You’ll be looking at a lot of foundations when you tour here: “This is where the Tholos used to sit … this is the outline of the Royal Stoa.” But don’t let the lack of visible remains fool you into thinking less of the agora than you should. There are stories—rich and historic stories—lurking under every rock.

Some barely discernable remains:

  1. The Altar of the Twelve Gods—one of the oldest structures in the agora and the spot from which ancient road marks were measured (“45 stadia to the Altar of the Twelve Gods”)
  2. The Painted Stoa—where Athens hung the shields of Spartans defeated at Sphacteria
  3. The Stoa of the Basileus (or Royal Stoa)—where (most likely) Socrates stood trial
  4. Bouleuterion—where the Athenian Senate met
  5. Tholos—where selected senators ate and slept to provide a 24/7 presence to handle emergencies
  6. Simon the Cobbler’s shop—where Socrates and Pericles may well have met and talked.
  7. The State Prison—a likely spot for the death of Socrates.

The notable exceptions:

  1. The Hephaestion—built at the same time as the Parthenon, but with all it’s columns still standing and retaining its roof. The best preserved Classical Greek temple in the world.
  2. The Stoa of Attalos—rebuilt by the American School of Classical Studies in the 1950’s as an exact replica of the original … even incorporates some of the original floor, walls, and columns.
Aphrodite Parthenon (from the south) Hephaesteon by night02 The Monument of the Eponymous Heroes Stoa of Attalos Interior Nymph with water jar Stoa of Attalos Head ofNike Agora from Hephaesteon
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Suggested Itinerary for Athens: Day Two

Category: Athens
Date 08.27.09 Author: TimWoodroof

We devote today to the mighty Acropolis and its surrounding sites. It will be a long and tiring day, so try to pace yourself. Drink lots of water. Stop often to rest.

Start your morning P1010145with the South Acropolis tour. Try to be at the gate when they open. The audio guide will eventually lead you straight up the hill to the Acropolis itself so you can move seamlessly to the Acropolis tour. We start early because, as the morning progresses, the site gets more crowded and hot.

Climb the Sacred Way to the home of Athena. Learn why the tiny temple of Athena Nike is both a symbol of hope and a site of great tragedy. Ooh and aah over the Parthenon and Erechtheon and the panoramic views of Athens. It will take you two or three hours to do justice to this historic place. Did I mention you should drink lots of water?Areopagus

Drop by the Areopagus to listen to the echoes of gods and men. Remember that the Apostle Paul stood here.

As noon approaches, walk down Apostolou Paulou (north) towards Thissio Station. Find a restaurant with an Acropolis view and take a long, leisurely lunch. Try moussaka or some souvlaki.

The afternoon belongs to the Agora. This wonderful site is like an old book—much worn and battered but so full of stories! The Agora was the home of Athens’ civic, commercial, and social life … where democracy worked its magic … a spot frequented bStoa of Attalos colonnade02y Socrates, Aristotle, and Pericles. There are very few places in the world as steeped in significant history as the Agora.

The reconstructed Stoa of Attalos is an architectural jewel, giving visitors a great feel for how these buildings functioned originally and what the Agora looked like in its prime. Housed inside the Stoa is the tiny Agora Museum—one of my favorites.

You’ve hit it hard today. Take a break. Get a frappe, people-watch, and stroll through the Plaka district—a touristy but still attractive area.

Greeks eat late, so try to hold off supper until after 20:00. Look for a restaurant off the beaten path … one that has traditional Greek dishes served family style. Strike up a conversation with a native Greek. (An offer to buy ouzo usually starts the words flowing.)

areopagus-from-acropolis-entrance Ostraka (with Themistocles' name) Agora boundary marker Kylix (with woman offering sacrifice) Erechtheon by night Kleroterion The Democracy Decree Hephaesteon by night Hephaesteon Aphrodite with an Attitude
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