---------YOUR TRAVEL GUIDE IN GREECE AND THE GREEK ISLANDS---------
Vacation in Greece, is a complete
Tourist Guide for Greece. Here you will find info on each island as well
as a complete list of hotels with full description and rates for all budgets
and tastes. In just two steps you can make
hotel reservations, sail
the Aegean, book flight and
ferrytickets, taxis
to drive you around Athens, guided tours,
ancient & moderntheatre tickets,
all delivered at your home address.
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HOTELS & VILLAS
CITY
OF ATHENS
historical
background
click on images to enlarge
the
roman agora
Large building measuring 111 x 98 m., comprising a spacious
rectangular courtyard surrounded by stoas, shops and storerooms.
It has an east, Ionic propylon and a west, Doric propylon,
known as the Gate of Athena Archegetis.
It was built between 19 and 11 B.C. with a donation of Julius
Caesar and Augustus. During the reign of Hadrian the court
was paved with slabs.
After the invasion of the Herulae in A.D.
267 the city of Athens was restricted to the area within
the Late Roman fortification wall, and the administrative
and commercial centre of the city was transferred from the
Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora and the Library of Hadrian.
During the Byzantine period and the Turkish occupation the
area was covered with houses, workshops and churches along
with the Fethiye Mosque.
After the necessary purchase and demolition of the private
houses and other buildings covering the area, a series of
excavations were carried out by the Greek Archaeological
Society (in 1837-45, 1890-91, 1920, 1930-31), by the Italians
(in 1940-42), by An. Orlandos and P. Lazarides (in 1963-64)
and by the 1st Ephorate of Antiquities (in 1955, 1965-66,
1968, 1984-85, 1989, 1991).
In 1915-19 restoration work was carried out by An. Orlandos
on the Gate of Athena Archegetis and the Tower of the Winds.
In 1942 some of the columns of the east peristyle were restored
by the Italians, and in 1963 three columns of the south
peristyle with their architraves were also restored by Orlandos.
Further restoration work was undertaken in 1975-76 by the
1st Ephorate at the Tower of the Winds and the Gate of Athena
Archegetis.
the
gate of athena archegetis
It stands on the west side of the Roman Agora. The monumental
entrance has a row of four Doric columns and a socle made
of Pentelic marble. It was constructed in 11 B.C. with the
donations of Julius Caesar and Augustus and was dedicated
by the People (Demos) of Athens to their patroness, Athena
Archegetis.
east
propylon
The east entrance to the Roman Agora had a row of four
Ionic columns made of gray Hymettian marble. It was built
in 19-11 B.C.
fethiye
djami
The Turkish mosque lies on the north side of the Roman
Agora. It was constructed in 1456 A.D. on the ruins of an
Early Christian basilica.
agoranomion
Rectangular building to the east
of the Roman Agora, dated to the 1st century A.D. It preserves
the facade which had three doorways with arched lintels
and a broad stairway. An inscription on the architrave mentions
that the building was dedicated to the Divi Augusti and
Athena Archegetis. It might be identified with the Sevasteion,
that is, a building for the worship of the emperor.
The public latrines (Vespasianae). were housed in a rectangular
building and consisted of an antechamber and a square hall
with benches bearing holes on all its four sides, and a
sewing pipe underneath. Dated to the 1st century A.D.
accommodation