Where to go in Athens

The Roman Agora

The origins of the name “Roman Agora” come from the period the building was constructed, during the Romans’ reign in Athens (10 B.C.). It is located behind Acropolis and connected the ancient temple to the Ancient Greek Agora. The Roman Agora combines Greek and Roman architectonic structures and this is the reason that this building is so different from the others. Julius Caesar donated an amount of money for the construction of the building.
The main gate was called “Gate of the Leading Athena” and the route to the Ancient Agora started from there. Greeks used this place for their everyday activities in the center of the town: buying and selling things or communicating with fellow citizens.
Apart from the main gate that still exists in the place, the visitors can see three more buildings inside the Agora. The first one is called “The Tower of the Winds” and demonstrated the direction of the wind. The next building is “The Vespasians”, which was used as a pool of water inside the agora: for relaxing after a long day… The last building was “The Agora Checking Place”, where all the problems inside the agora were solved. That last building along with the main gate was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the protector of the city.
Nowadays to enter the building the visitors have to check the second gate, since the “Gate of the Leading Athena” is closed.

by Dionisis Kokkaliaris

posted by fejsgr @ 2:18 PM