Roman Forum of Athens, Ancient marketplace in central Athens, Greece.
The Roman Forum of Athens is an ancient marketplace built during Roman times where merchants sold their goods. At its center stands the Tower of the Winds, featuring eight sundials and an early water clock mechanism used to track time and weather.
Emperor Augustus ordered the construction of this marketplace in the first century BC to establish Roman authority over Greek territories. The site later expanded and served as the commercial center of Athens for several centuries.
The forum brought together people from different regions who came to trade and interact with one another. Visitors today can still see how Greek and Roman traditions met and coexisted in the same space.
The forum sits in central Athens and is easy to reach with clear pathways between the ruins for exploration. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the ground is uneven and the sun can be intense during the day.
The Tower of the Winds was not just a sundial but also tracked wind directions with labeled symbols on each of its eight sides. These early attempts to monitor weather patterns made it a predecessor of modern meteorology.
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