Shopping the "Agora" Market in Ancient Athens

Just below the Acropolis in a quiet valley sat the Agora, the ancient gathering place for all commerce, socialization and politics in the civilization.  Traders set up stalls and sold their wares all through the huge space.  Libraries were constructed and temples erected in honor of deities.

Ruins lie in various states of decay along the Agora market's periphery.  Through study of the relics you can clearly make out fountains and watering troughs for horses.  The picture to the right is the view from the Agora market, looking up at the Acropolis.

Perhaps the most fascinating - yet bizarre - site to see as you walk the fields at the Agora was the area dedicated to public toilets.  The Greeks designed a communal sanitation facility flanked by river-fed channels to wash away the waste and keep the market smelling fresh. Who knew these existed so long ago?

Fun fact - to reveal the Agora's architectural remnants, the government purchased and demolished more than 400 homes. 

Now, it's a central part of Athens once again, and a beautiful place to wander on a sunny day.

For more information on the complicated history of this integral part of Athens, visit
http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtsagora1.htm