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Athens Page 73

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THE AGORA

As you come down from the Acropolis, you overlook the Agora. The public square was at the heart of everything which took place in ancient Athens. It opened on to the city (as opposed to the shrines) and fulfilled numerous roles.

- Its political role : See the thematic page
In a democratic city, ruled by the people, as it was the case in Athens, the Agora was where political activities took place. The bowl-throwers(?)… and strategees held seats in the Agora. The prytaneum housed the altar of the hearth of the city where the Goddess, Hestia, was worshipped. The prytanises ("the first ones" : representatives of each tribe) took their meals there in the company of official guests. The monument of the eponymous. Heros of the ten tribes represents the main characteristics of the city, here, at the base of the ten statues , the texts of the laws and the mobilization orders are displayed. However, some political meetings took place in the Agora since the Ecclesia gathered on the hill of Pnyx.
- its judicial role : The Helia and the courts
- its economic role : The Agora was also at the heart of trade, the market was held there, the porticos were used as shelters for many shops.
- its religions role : In the Agora, the temple of Hephaistos and the altar of the twelve gods (the starting point for calculating distances) were to be found, as well as the start of the sacred path of the Panathenaea.
- its social role : Strollers liked walking there and meeting up with each other to chat.