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Athens (Attica) | Attica | Athens City

Athens Pnyx Archaeological Site

The Pnyx is the monumental site in which functioned the democratic principles of equal rights under the law and of the democratic dialogue of the Athenians.

Pnyx: Orator's Bema 

The discovery by Pittakis in 1835 of a boundary stone of the 5th century B.C. inscribed "HOPOΣ ΠΥKNOΣ", "boundary of the Pnyx" led to the definitive identification of the extensive structures at the crest of the Hill of the Pnyx as the site of the assembly place. Zeus as protector of the state (Altar of Zeus Agoraios) and as healer (Shrine of Zeus Hypsistos) received the prayers of the assembly before the sessions began.

The Assembly (Ekklesia) of the People met ten times a year; there the Chairman of the Prytaneis presided, assisted by a Secretary and a Herald, who made the announcements. The audience sat originally on the bedrock but later on wooden benches, while the orator spoke from the bema (speaker's platform). At a lower level of this bema sat the Prytaneis, who, assisted by archers, kept order. From the bema of the Pnyx famous politicians and orators such as Themistokles,  Perikles, Demosthenes and Aischines addressed the Athenians.

The area, a semicircular amphitheatre in shape, 70m. in depth and 120m. in diameter and with a strong retaining wall that supported its perimeter, shows three construction stages:
Ist stage: (6th century B.C., in the first years of the Athenian Democracy). The cavea had room for ca. 5.000 persons. The bema was in the north and the audience faced the Agora, the Areopagus and the Propylaia
2nd stage: (Late 5th century B.C.). The orientation of the cavea was changed, with the bema now in the southwest and with a new retaining wall (1) with two staircases for access. The seating capacity was increased to 6.000
3rd stage: (down to around 300-326 B.C., during the ambitious building program of Lykourgos). The capacity was again increased, to 13,500, and a new monumental retaining wall was added with a central staircase for access (2). Across from the entrance was a bema carved into a huge piece of bedrock, "the Stone", with a facade of 9m. and three steps 1.10m. high (4). Higher up there was the president's box and behind it the altar of Zeus Agoraios (9) and the solar clock of the astronomer Meton (15); east of the bema stood the shrine of Zeus Hypsistos, against the face of the rock, which had niches carved into it (8). During the architectural reform of Lykourgos, two long Stoas were intended to be built in the west and south side of the assembly place, providing shelter to the citizens. Both buildings were left unfinished and were later incorporated in the Diateichisma.

The Pnyx was abandoned at the end of the 4th century B.C., when the public meeting-place was transferred to the more suitable place of the Theater of Dionysos.


(Photos: Michael Tziotis)

Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

Archaeological Sites West of the Acropolis Rock

Archaeological Sites West of the Acropolis Rock


Index:
1. Pnyx
2. Sanctuary of Pan
3. 'Kallirrhoe Fountain'
4. Sanctuary of Zeus
5. National Observatory
6. Sanctuary of Nymphs
7. Church of St. Marina
8. Byzantine Church of St. Demetrios Loumbardiares
9. Dipylon Above the Gates
10. 'Prison od Socrates'
11. Diateichisma
12. Kimon's Tomb
13. Heptathronon
14. Road of Koile
15. Agora of the Demoi of Koile
16. Cemetery of Koile
17. Demoi of Melite
18. Heroon of Mousaios
19. Monument of Philopappos
20. Macedonian Fortress
21. Themistoclean Fortification
22. Gates
23. Paths of D. Pikionis
24. Dora Stratou Theater
25. Open-air Exhibition
Pnyx Hill: General Plan of the site

Pnyx Hill: General Plan of the site


Here is a reference to the numbers shown in the photo:
1. Retaining Wall of Phase II
2. Retaining Wall of Phase III
3. Koilon of Phase III
4. Bema (Podium) of Phase III
5. East Stoa
6. West Stoa
7. Propylon
8. Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos
9. Altar of Zeus Agoraios
10. Diateichisma
11. Dipylon above the Gates
12. St. Dametrios Loumbardiaris
13. White Poros Wall
14. Melitides Gate
15. Sundial of Meton
16. Meridian Telescope of Observatory (1931-32)
Note: the numbering is the same as in the introductory text above
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Drawing of a reconstruction of the three phases of Pnyx

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Drawing of a reconstruction of the three phases of Pnyx


credit: American School of Classical Studies
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Drawing of a reconstruction of phase ΙΙΙ of Pnyx

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Drawing of a reconstruction of phase ΙΙΙ of Pnyx


credit: American School of Classical Studies
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Diateichisma

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Diateichisma
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Diateichisma

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Diateichisma
Pnyx Archaeological Site: East Stoa (Portico)

Pnyx Archaeological Site: East Stoa (Portico)
Pnyx Archaeological Site: East Stoa (Portico) General View

Pnyx Archaeological Site: East Stoa (Portico) General View
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Looking towards the remains of the Altar of Zeus Agoraios and the Solar Clock of Meton

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Looking towards the remains of the Altar of Zeus Agoraios and the Solar Clock of Meton
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Altar of Zeus Agoraios

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Altar of Zeus Agoraios
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Altar of Zeus Agoraios

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Altar of Zeus Agoraios
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Meton's Solar Clock

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Meton's Solar Clock
Pnyx Archaeological Site: West Stoa (Portico)

Pnyx Archaeological Site: West Stoa (Portico)
Pnyx Archaeological Site: West Stoa (Portico)

Pnyx Archaeological Site: West Stoa (Portico)
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema (Podium)

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema (Podium)
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema (Podium)

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema (Podium)
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema on Pnyx, the Areopagus Hill in the background (left) and the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema on Pnyx, the Areopagus Hill in the background (left) and the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon


This is exactly where Democracy was born and developed! A site every free human being owes a pilgrimage to...
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema on Pnyx and the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema on Pnyx and the Acropolis rock with the Parthenon
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Orator's Bema from the East
Pnyx Archaeological Site: The Acropolis rock, the Areopagus Hill with visitors on it and the imposing Hill of Lycabettus

Pnyx Archaeological Site: The Acropolis rock, the Areopagus Hill with visitors on it and the imposing Hill of Lycabettus


Lycabettus literally means "where wolves take a walk"
Pnyx Archaeological Site: One more photo of the Orator's Bema

Pnyx Archaeological Site: One more photo of the Orator's Bema
Pnyx Archaeological Site from the NW

Pnyx Archaeological Site from the NW
Pnyx Archaeological Site: Retaining Wall

Pnyx Archaeological Site: Retaining Wall