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The ancient agora of Thessaloniki

Αρχαιολογικά χρονικά

• Βελένης, Γεώργιος Μ.

In 1990 the ΙΣΤ' Ephorate of Thessaloniki instituted a programme in cooperation with the University of Thessaloniki, the aim of which was to complete the excavation of the agora, to produce a study showing how it could best be promoted, to incorporate it in the life of the city, and to raise the general public’s aware of it. To achieve this aim, the area available between the four streets enclosing the archaeological site has been systematically and continuously excavated since that time.The investigation so far suggests that the agora of Thessaloniki included an area of about two hectares at the centre of the Roman city. It is rectangular in shape with proportions of 1:2 and is bounded to north and south by two parallel streets of the city. It occupies the length of an ancient stadium, and its area corresponds to three and a half insulae of the ancient city, together with the width of the streets between them. The complex was organised around a rectangular paved square 146 m. long.Three of the sides were occupied by double stoas with Corinthian columns and a row of rooms at the back. On the south side of it was created a double subterranean vaulted stoa (cryptoporticus) which served both as the substructure for the Corinthian stoa above it and as a retainingwall for the large square. A marble paved road, 2 m. wide without the pavements, was found in direct contact with the shops to the south. Access to the double stoas of the agora was controlled. The intercolum- niations were blocked by marble closure slabs. In typological terms, the ancient agora of Thessaloniki resembles that of Philippi. It is, that is to say, an agora in the shape of the Greek letter Π, opening onto a street on the south side. The only difference is that the agora of Philippi is much smaller and fits exactly into the square of the Thessaloniki agora.At least three Roman phases were detected in the centre of the east wing. About half way along it, there was originally (2nd c. AD) a theatral area with curved seats, inscribed in a rectangle, a council chamber (bouleuterion), which was demolished to create an odeion holding 400 people (3rd c. AD). In the second half of the 4th c. AD, possibly during the reign of Julian, it was decided to extend the odeion. A second cavea, four times as big, was then created. The extension of the building does not however seem to have been completed.The agora ceased to function in the reign of Theodosius. From the 5th c. on it served as a large quarry for the building materials it contained.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

Αγορά, Θεσσαλονίκη

Περιέχει εικόνες, Μια αρχική μορφή του κείμενου αυτού εκφωνήθηκε στα αγγλικά ως ανακοίνωση στο XIV Διεθνές Συνέδριο Κλασικής Αρχαιολογίας, Tarragone 6-11 Σεπτεμβρίου 1993 (G. Velenis - I. Vocotopoulou, The Roman Agora of Thessaloniki)