Roman Agora of Athens, Ancient marketplace in Plaka, Greece
The Roman Agora of Athens is a rectangular marketplace in the Plaka district of Greece, surrounded by marble Ionic colonnades. The central courtyard was paved and provided space for trade and public gatherings under the open sky.
Emperor Augustus commissioned the construction between 19 and 11 BCE to meet the growing trade needs of Athens. Emperor Hadrian later added more buildings and expanded the complex during the second century CE.
This site takes its name from the period of Roman rule and stands near the older classical agora, showing how the urban center of Athens shifted eastward over time. Traders sold goods under the covered walkways while visitors used the Tower of Winds to check the time and read weather conditions.
A combined ticket grants access to eight ancient sites in Athens, including the Acropolis and the classical agora grounds. Wear comfortable shoes as surfaces are uneven and column remains cross the paths.
The Tower of Winds was converted into a chapel during the sixth century and remained nearly complete through the centuries because of this reuse. This transformation preserved the octagonal marble structure and the ancient reliefs depicting eight wind gods.
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