Agora of Assos
Ancient Greek Mythology, Religion, Art
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The earliest agoras were probably developed around the 8th century BCE after the fall of the Mycenaean civilization (Mycenaean cities had no identifiable agoras). They were also marked off by boundary stones rather than buildings - that was the case in Athens and those boundary stones can still be seen. The addition of buildings to an agora only comes later and follow the lines already laid out by the stones.
The central area of any agora was reserved for monuments, dedications, and groups of statues. Keeping the area open was necessary because of the frequent need to use the space for crowds - crowds that would gather for dramas, trials, or political speeches. Around the agora the most likely buildings to be erected were courts, administrative offices, and major temples. Sometimes even streets run through if the agora was not planned and laid out in advance.
The above diagram is of the agora in Assos, a Greek city in Asia Minor. Notice how effectively it brings together several types of buildings: religious (temple), public (civic baths), and administrative (council offices). This agora was created in the 2nd century BCE and is very typical of most Greek agoras of that era.
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