Roman Agora

The Roman Agora is a large rectangular paved square at the entrance to the Sacred Way in Delphi, serving as the gateway to the sanctuary complex. Three Ionic colonnades frame the space, creating sheltered areas where people once gathered and browsed goods.

The site originated as a Greek marketplace, but Romans transformed it into their own version following their conquest of Delphi in the 2nd century. Major renovations in the 4th century CE reshaped the square with new colonnades that reflected Roman design principles.

This marketplace served as a meeting point where locals and pilgrims mingled while buying ritual objects and everyday goods before entering the sanctuary. The layout reflects how commerce and worship were deeply connected in daily life.

Most visitors start their tour of Delphi from this square, then continue upward along the Sacred Way toward the temples. The flat paved surface is easy to walk on, and the colonnades provide shade during hot weather.

The square once displayed statues of Roman emperors and wealthy citizens who sponsored civic works, lining the colonnades. Though the statues are long gone, their bases remain visible today, marking where these figures of authority once stood watching over the marketplace.