Agora of the Competaliasts, Ancient Greek marketplace in Delos, Greece
The Agora of the Competaliasts is an open square next to the Sacred Harbour with gneiss stone pavement showing systematically arranged holes. These holes marked where merchants set up their stalls during trading days, and rows of ancient shops and workshops lined the marketplace borders.
The marketplace was built in the last quarter of the 2nd century BC as a commercial center serving merchants, bankers, and sea captains near the harbor. It reflects the economic prosperity of Delos during this period and its role in flourishing Mediterranean trade networks.
The site was dedicated to Hermes, the god of commerce, reflecting its role as a trading hub. Two marble monuments in the center and an Ionic temple to the north show how merchants and visitors connected their business with divine protection.
Visitors can explore the foundations of ancient shops, workshops, and the Portico of Philip which outline the eastern and southern boundaries. The site can be windy and exposed to the elements, so bringing sun protection and suitable footwear helps when walking across the uneven stone pavement.
The stone pavement preserves hundreds of precisely positioned holes that show exactly where merchants erected and removed their market stalls each day. These holes are a rare physical record of daily trading routines and the organized layout of ancient commerce.
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