Ancient Agora of Athens

About the museum

The Ancient Agora was an open space bounded by three hills, the Acropolis, the Areopagus and the Agoraios Kolonos, and it was the centre of public life in ancient Athens. The Athenians met here for trade, cult ceremonies, theatrical performances, sport and assemblies. The administrative, judicial and commercial buildings of the Agora show the development of Athenian democracy.

On the Agoraios Kolonos stands the Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergane, known as the Theseion, the best-preserved temple of the 5th century BC. At the foot of the hill the Bouleuterion and the Tholos were uncovered, and from the Agora the road to the Pnyx began.

The Museum of the Ancient Agora has been housed since 1957 in the Stoa of Attalos, a gift from King Attalos II of Pergamon to the Athenians in the 2nd century BC. The building was reconstructed by the American School of Classical Studies in 1953–1956. It displays finds from the American excavations, from the Neolithic period to the Ottoman period, with emphasis on objects of democracy: public weights and measures, judicial allotment plates, ballots and ostraka.

Highlights

• Stoa of Attalos and Museum of the Ancient Agora
• Temple of Hephaestus and Athena Ergane (Theseion)
• Ostraka of ostracism and objects of Athenian democracy
• Bouleuterion and Tholos
• Odeion of Agrippa

Permanent exhibitions

• Μουσείο της Αρχαίας Αγοράς – Finds from the excavations, from the Neolithic period to the Ottoman period, with public weights and measures, judicial allotment plates, ballots and ostraka.
• Αρχαιολογικός χώρος της Αγοράς – The Temple of Hephaestus, the Bouleuterion, the Tholos, the Odeion of Agrippa and the stoas of the ancient square.

Founded

1957

Operated by

Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Πόλης Αθηνών

Admission & discounts

Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October, and every first and third Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

The ticket applies to the archaeological site and the Museum of the Ancient Agora. The categories of free and reduced admission are set by the Ministry of Culture.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is accessible and has a lift and toilets.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.