Greek Agora and relevant buildings. A historical account. Workthread for historical hellenistic buildings for RS 2.0
Centers of commercial activity in the way of Alexander the Great.,
By Dr. of Archaeology Maria Girtzi, found in Archiologia, vol. 107
336 BCE. A year that stands as a landmark, a special page in ancient greek history. Phillipos B’, king of an especially enlargened Makedonian state, voted leader of all the Greeks, falls dead in Aigai, assassinated. His son, Alexandros the third, is announced as King and inherits along with the Makedonian kingdom and vision of Philippos for the punishment of the Persians and an expansion to the East. Proving that he is a worthy heir of his father, after managing to secure his northern and southern frontiers, winning by force of arms the recognition and support of all the Greeks, he departs for Asia in 334 BCE. The young Makedonian monarch destroys all enemies who stand in his way, and his name becomes synonymous with hope for the Greeks of the east, whose moral grows by leaps and bounds as they see a liberator in him. It soon becomes evident that the plans of Megas Alexandros don’t just include vindication, but also expansion, as along with the victories against the Persians, he builds new cities and refounds old greek ones.
Initially he builds his new cities or reconstructs and embellishes the old ones, by the rules of the ancient Hellenistic polis. Later on, he installs there, along with the locals, Greek populations-where they don’t exist- who he has accumulated with him during his campaign. In this aspect those cities are rightfully called Greek. In the end, he also constitutes their political life, founding most of the time, democratic regimes. He also takes pains to create a financial life for the cities he founds. Furthermore, in order to assist financial activity, but also satisfy his own personal vanity –as every hegemon would- mints his own coins, a policy very closely followed by his heirs. Alexandrian coins and especially silver ones, quickly dominate all the known world pushing aside the Athenian ones., with sole exception Egypt, which first used Rhodian coins and then on Phoenician ones. It soon will succumb to Makedonian domination and will use the coins of the Ptolemaioi. In this way, many commercial centers rise., both newly founded (Alexandreia) or older Greek ones (Miletos), which had fallen into disuse during the duration of the Persian occupation and exploitation. As a natural consequence, the markets –whithout which from 5th century on there can be no meaning in the existence of a settlement, much less a trading station- find especially important role in the trading of goods for centuries after the death of the Makedonian Leader. Positions such as those of Pella, which was the staging ground for the Panhellenic campaign of the Hegemon of the Greeks, but also Miletos, Priene, Magnesia on Menandros, Alexandreia, Kyrene, -which were his stations- are to this day saving traces of their capital importance as trade destinations and passage points. Archaeological discoveries there point to this day to traces of capital commercial and political buildings and very substantial ancient markets.
In order to give a spherical account of the organization of the ancient centers of commercial exchange of the ancient centers of trade relations of the Makedonian state (during Alexandros), are cities which weren’t built during the time of Alexandros, which don’t exist in the era of Alexandros, but are founded after his passage, as a consequence of his cultural heritage, and also preserve for us, remains of ancient agoras of excellent
Ancient greek Agora
Before going on to analytically describe the centers of commercial activity, which is the purpose of this article, it would be prudent to make a general mention of the ancient greek agora. As a concept it predates the Classical era, but only at the 5th century BCE did it become established in a well picked area, becoming a fundamental part of the city plan of the ancient greek polis. The role it is called to futhfill is multidimensional, as it is both a center of political, religious and social activities as well as a commercial center. To achieve this it would require a very specific architectural organization of the space, which usually includes a large oblong or rectangular yard with buildings arranged around it or in a small space from it (Bouleuterion= loosely house of representatives, Dikasterion= court, Metroo= registry, Prytaneio=(needs translation), etc.
During the 4th century BCE, its plan is being perfected and the usage of Stoai is incorporated which surround the yard and usually house a large number of rooms. Archaeological discoveries point to spaces of gathering for the people, worship (which include small temples (naiskos) or actual temples (naos) as even civic gatherings would require divine protection). There are also administrative functions (which house political archons, judges, administrative stuff) and of course commercial exchange (shops and workshops of every kind). Furthermore, a central road usually divides the market, separating the political-administrative space from the one devoted to financial activities.
In later Hellenistic times a “Peristylion” (surrounding colonnade) is used to fully enclose the market from all sides, an invention that is totally greek. In the inner part of the Peristylion are the integral parts of its plan, while exits to the outside are only of secondary importance.
Stoa (as described by Pausanias), Stoia (by Aristophanes), Stoie,Stooia and Stoua(Last 3 ones based on inscriptions), are making an appearance in the archaic period in Samos and Ionia, during the second half of the 5th cent. BCE, then it is found in Attica during the second half of the 5th cent. BCE. In the 4th cent. BCE it can be seen in settlements in Peloponnesos. Its greatest peak, however, can be observed in the end of 4th cent. BCE, as it consists of an organic element of the Hellenistic architecture both in the conception of the polis, as well as being considered a vital part in the city planning process. It isn't just a simple architectural element to add on an existing building. In this period the geographical diaspora of those Agoras is determined on the basis of the change of the financial situation in mainland Hellas.
For example in Attica, -with the notable exception of foreign leaders' grants-, stoa is abandoned and the same goes for the Peloponnese, with the notable exception of Corinth, which can be explained, as it was for a long time a Macedonian bastion, and the power center of Demetrios Poliorketes of the Antigonids. On the contrary there is a significant increase on the number of the stoai being built in the NW Greece (for example in Thermon-the capital of the Aitolian league- as well as in Kalydona, Kassope etc) whose presence is closely related with the expansion of the Aitolian league and the proliferation of city life in Epeiros during the Aiakidai and the Koinon of Epeiros which succeeded them. Despite those factors, it was on the shores of the Aegean in which the greatest development of the Stoai occurred, where the campaign of Megas Alexandros and his passage from present day Anatolia is responsible for the great urban re-newal which took place.
Stoai of non-religious buildings (For example the Temple of Jerusalem had a peristylion stoa around it) and consiquently the markets in which those were adjacent to, or a part of, were usually donations of rich individuals, very often Monarchs (for example Antiochos A' in Miletos) , which provide the money, but in the case of Pergamos Basileis and the architect or the design. After those stoai where built they are property of the city, which undertakes the preservation fees but also the income from renting spaces or even as a guaranty for loans.
Stoai of eastern Aegean coastal cities could be devited in two categories basis to the architectural design: Ionian and Pergamos rhythm. The main characteristics of Ionian stoa configurated in late 4th BC century. During the 3d BC century they appear occasionally in Ionian Architecture and in the 2nd Bc centure they are present in many places(markets, sanctuaries, public buildings etc). Pergamon type makes it’s first appearance later as regards with the Ionian and though there are some speciments in the 3d BC century ride high in the 2nd BC century kingship of Eumenes II and Attalos II.
Starting from the delinated above prominence of Stoai, researchers differentiate ratio markets of Greek cities in Asia Minor into two types: Ionian and Pergamon.
Ionian markets
Representable examples of Ionian Markets are those of Miletos, Priene, Magnesia on the Meander etc. Some scientists considers that the appearance of this type in a consequence of the Ippodamos system, fatherland of which was Miletos. This theory is not established, but examining many occasions shows that the urban design is affects the space organization. Ionian markets usually are consisted of one open orthogonal yard, which is appointed in three sides from a stoa in Π shape or from two stoai in Γ shape and in the fourth one wide or tight from a roadworthiness, with a stoa in the other side. The paradox is that despite the fact that we are in par excellence fatherland of the Ionian rhythm , Dorian is widely used. There are two different reasons for this.. For example stoa , was a component of cosmic structures developed in Greek main land late fifth early fourth century BC, when Dorian rhythm dominated in Greece. Furthermore, one serious role played the construction cost (Dorian rhythm is more unbound and though more cheap) but also influence of the Macedonians that used it usually.
Pergamon Markets
Representative specimens of Pergamon markets are located in Pergamon, but also in other places in Asia minor and Greece, where the Attalids made great donations. Those markets are asymmetrical but there is a prelate of the buildings. Stoai are deployed in one or two floors. Here, also, Dorian rhythm is the rule. More elements of this type is the absence of dapples in the lower part of columns, the existence of three different types of capitals, the low epistyle and the low zoophoros(?) with tree and not two triglyphs between the columns.
Specially in Asia Minor area was given the ability to use the new architect drifts, because there were the leavings of Persian destructions that should be replaced, but also and the new creations and changes that marked Alexander’s passage or followed it. Next we will examine representative examples of markets that were stations of the Macedon victorious army commander and ride high in his times or even later. Following Alexander’s way to the East from NW to SE we will examine markets of Pella, Thessaloniki, Pergamon of Magnesia on the Meander river, Melitos, Priene, Alexandreia and Kyrene.
Cities-stations in Alexander’s road and their markets
PELLA
Pella was not one of the campaign’s stations to the East, but it was his birthplace, capital of Macedonian Kingdom, starting point of the campaign and one of the better preserved samples of ancient markets.
Market of Pella is located in the northern part of the excavated place (and south of Acropolis). It was built wit
Ippodameio system, and covers ten regular blocks (5x2) plus 5 smaller. There was a huge yard (200x182m) enclosed from stoai, which offer hospitality to many places and it was bisected from one highway (direction W-E). The different rooms were used for many practices like a) in the East side the ceramics and wax labs but also places that liquid and solid commodities were sold. B) in the West side perfumeries , Northwest and Southern shops with imported vessels and lamps and metallurgies. C) In the south stoa ceramics, metallurgies, shops with solid and liquid commodities, butcheries and fish shops. D) In the North part were located official places of administration-politics. Between them short out semi-circle constructions of worship, a parlor with statues, captions and stamps that leads to identify with the eminent’s headquarters, arch construction with monumental entrance for the gathering of the regency of polis. E) In the Southeast corner was located a two-floor building with many findings (ex. Stamps, pens, inkhorns) that allows us to recognize it as a place of writing, stamping and keep files.
Finally, an able number of monuments existed in the open yard, completing the magnificent picture of the market. The greatest part of archaeologic ruins of the complex are from the time of Philip E’, but there are also many findings of an earlier period, which time the first construction in the second half of the 4th BC century.
THESSALONIKI
Thessaloniki was founded in 315BC from Kassander, brother in law and successor of Alexander in Macedonian throne.
The city was built, probably, in Ippodameio urban design. The market was placed among that system and was located where the two main roads were crossed. The one with orientation N-S and the other E-W(the well known Egnatia road). What is today saved is the ruins of a shining imperial Forum Romanum, with an orthogonic open patio, surrounded from a stoa in Π shape with double colonnade . The south stoa seats in a double vaulted construction for smoothing the terrains aptitude., one part of it is semi-basement (known as cryptoporticus).
In the East wing is located an odium of the 2nd AC century, which in the mid 4th AC century was planned to became a theater, plan never completed.. This construction was built in an older building of the 1st AC century with use in politics, an orthogonal chamber of deputies, which in his turn replaced private residences of the 2nd AC century.
In the south part of the Odeum is the historic file of the city, and in the SE exists Balaneion(?) of the late Hellenistic period and the older whorehouse of the Greek region , textural from circular halls of ephidrosis, two pools(cold and hot water) heating furnaces etc.
In the North part of the east wing is a distinct place, recognized as mint.
Important is that in many spots in the market(ex. Under the yard, the east wing, the Balaneion, the cryptoporticus etc) is located the Hellenistic layer of the late quarter of the 3rd BC century, with no buildings for the time being in the excavated part, but with many pits, that bear witness the existence of places of immediate exploitation of the natural clear red soil. Later excavations to come might prove that the Hellenistic market, extended under the Roman ruins.
PERGAMON
The history of the city of Pergamon goes back until the 4th BC century, based on resources that Xenophon and Myrioi passed from here in their long journey to the sea, where was located a small fortified settlement on the top of the hill. Till now there is no evidence that Alexander camped here but he passed in a small distance. After his death Pergamon was given to his successor Lysimahos, who chooses this place to guard the 9.000 talants treasure and his loyal Philetairos to keep an eye on it. But Philetairos united with Seleucos, which makes him governor of the city. Then Philetairos places Greek settlers with the locals and a city is slowly developed. This place knows it’s pick in his successors Eumenes and Attalos time and finally becomes an independent kingdom, acting as a guard for the coastal Greek cities against the Gauls and finally gains their gratitude and is recognized as a Greek city.
Pergamon had two markets, upper and lower market. The fact that the place is not flat does not allow an Ippodameio urban design and enforce the use of banks and of course inflicts the shape and construction of the markets.
Upper market has irregularly shape and has an open yard surrounded of stoai with columns and many rooms in the SW, SE and NE part when the NW part occupies part of the adjacent altar of Zeus. The market was cut almost in the middle from the road that leads to the palace and because of the aptitude is not straight and has an asymetrical stoa in Π shape and one smaller straight stoa. The grounds aptitude demands bearing up under the SW stoa and part of SE, achieved with the use of stoa, in some parts two floored and in some other three floored, with Dorian style colonnade in the first floor and Ionian in upper floors, where many rooms are located. The construction is estimated to took place in 175-150BC.
Based on sources and findings in Pergamon markets took place slavery, wool, curtains, interwoven with gold clothes, furthermore the city had the monopoly in the pergamen trade.
MAGNESIA
Magnesia on the Meander river is one of the cities on the wake of Alexander’s.
The place of the market was picked with religion criteria and was connected to the shrine of Artemis Leykophriene, located in the East. It was built on the principals of the Ionian markets. Consisted of an orthogonal open yard, surrounded with stoai of double colonnades extended to join from the three sides and one road in the fourth parallel and along which is another double colonnade stoa. In the North and West stoa existed places with many uses. Behind the south stoa, a commercial one, are located some constructions with many uses relative to the multidimensional purpose of the market , like market inspection police office, exchange, administrative offices, deanship, a platform for the political leaders accumulations. Finally in the yard there is the Zeus Sosipolis(city saviour). The construction is estimated probably in the 2nd BC century.
MELITOS
Alexander reaches Melitos in 334BC after his victory in Granikos river. When the Persian commander denies his request for surrender, he sieges and finally captures the city. He settles down democracy again and encourages some construction plans.(part of them is the late 4th BC century built market).
Melitos appears a comparative irregular market plan, fact that could be reasoned from the long time period the market was built. There were two parts North and south market and composed from many constructions, like: 1) port’s stoa with Γ shape in Dorian rhythm and various spaces in it’s south part, 2) Antioch’s stoa with Dorian colonnade including a series of one-spaced stores with openings to the East and a series of two-spaced stores with openings to the West (to the open yard of the south market). This stoa is dated in early 3rd BC century. 3) Stoa in the west of of harbor’s stoa in Π shape with many rooms in N and S, dated in late 3rd BC. The same era a new chain of spaces was added in the West of harbor’s stoa with Dorian colonnade in front, a colonnade yard with rooms all around and the North stoa of the north market in Γ shape, with Dorian colonnades and many rooms in N and W. Many rooms belongs both to harbor stoa and colonnade yard or the North stoa, because those three buildings comprise part of one common space dated in late 4th BC. 4) South stoa of North market in Γ shape, which has a double colonnade and guests many rooms –though it comes in the mid 2nd BC to accomplish the North stoa, there are declinations from symmetry (colonnades has different metacionio space and different series of space), 5) a small temple of mid 2nd BC in the center of the west side of the North market. 6) the two stoai N and S of the south market in Γ shap, which enclose the orthogonal open yard from three sides and has double colonnades(Ionian inside and Dorian outside). The North guests no rooms and the South has some rooms in the south part. Though they are not exactly the same . They are dated in late 3rd BC or early 2nd BC. 7) the shops building with double stoa with pessaries inside, dated in 2nd BC. 8) 2nd BC Bouleutirion, related secondhand with the market. Until the market was built it’s actions took place in markets place but later there were only commercial actions, loosing it’s political role.
The Melitos markets covered a huge area (almost 71.000 M2) and they appear irregular, examining them one by one. The North market is similar to that of Priene and has an orthogonal yard, surrounded from the three sides with stoai and has a monumental propylo in the fourth side. The south market, with similarities to this of Magnesia, has greater regularity, and respects the Ippodameio urban planing( Melitos born the great urbanist and was built in his plan) occupies 15 big blocks and 5 small.
The commercial activities of Melitos were based in transport trade. Melitos was a center of wool processing.
PRIENE
Priene belongs to the cities that already existed in Alexander’s time, but experienced changes during his reign or earlier. There are two theories regarding it’ s reorganization. 1) Alexander, after Melitos, visits Priene , dedicated to Athenas temple and probably founds a new city next to the old, declinated one, in his policy of revitalizing the independence of eastern Greek cities after the Persian occupation. 2) Karia’s king, Mausolos, 30 years before Alexander, moves and reorganize the city, just like he did with many cities-including his capital Halikarnasos- wishing to expand his kingdom.
Both theories leads to the safe conclusion that Priene in the 4th BC is reorganized or built, following the Ipodameio system. Market occupies two blocks in the center of the city. Belongs to the typical Ionian markets with the orthogonal open yard surrounded from the Π shape stoa determined in the N from a road with E-W direction, while other roads are interrupted or changing diretion to overpass the market(like in Melitos example). Stoa has Π shape and is a simple one with Dorian colonnade and rooms in the W and S sides, excepted the S part that it is with double Dorian colonade both in and out and runs as a place for gathering the leaders. This stoa has some places under the markets level, under the S part, which functions as a support because of the grounds declination. The construction of the Π shape stoa is estimated in late 4th BC-early 3rd BC centuries.
In the N and along the main road, that arranges from the N the market, exists a stoa that was built in two phases. 1)3rd BC. A simple stoa with rooms in the rear and length equal to the opposite S stoa. 2)Third quarter of 2nd BC. Holy stoa was built upon the existing one. This is double, with an internal Ionian colonnade and a Dorian one outside, various places with administrative and political functions (ex. Archive) in the 2/3of it’s length. The remaining 1/3 occupies the third block, substantially outside of the market, infront of Bouleutirion and deanship and N of Zeus temple, incorporating those structures in the market upgrading it’s role to policy- worship. In the inner part of the market are located some monuments and platforms. In the W of the market is a small block, acting as a trading market, with butcher’s and fish shops, isolating with this way the political from the trading uses of the Priene markets.
ALEXANDREIA
Alexandreia was founded from Alexander it’s self in 331BC as an independent Greek city. Urban design was assigned to Denokratis-architect, urbanist, that was following the campaign-and was following Pella’a cast. Due to kings orders. Like Arrian mentions, the place of the market was a decision of Alexander. In Diodoros and Strabo we have mentions for a square stoa, probably the ancient market, while Plinius mentions that the market that has political and worship actions incorporates the tomb of the heroic-founder, Alexander the Great.
Considering the excavations in the area are bounded and no clear evidences and architectural remains for the market’s place have been found, in this phase there are only some confutationed guessworks of researchers. Erdmann declares that the market was under the Roman tetrapylo, which was located in the center of the city (though based in the principals of Hellenistic Architecture market was never in the center of a city and in Roman Architecture we never had a Tetrapylo above the Greek market.) Schreiber believes that there is not a market in the city center. Noak considers that there is a market with commercial use next to the harbor and one with Political, administrative and worship functions in the center of the city. Tomlinson, finally, puts the place of the market along the great avenue (Kanopos leoforos?) orientated E_W like Pella.
According to all sources Alexandreia was the most important port of the Hellenistic world. Timber, metals, wool, marble, wine, horses arrived and wheat, papyrus, glass, flax, woolen clothes, perfumes and cosmetics left from to the known world. Furthermore Alexandreia’s market was a slavery center.
KYRENE
Kyrene was founded in 631BC from Theras settlers. Alexander never passed from here but the inhabitants sent embassies with gifts and the Macedonian King in return put the city under his protection. After his death Ptolemy took control of the region.
In the N part of the city was the market, covering a big urban block, has irregular shape and appointed from two sides(N and W) from stoai, while E and S from road, one of them the main road of the city.
The North side includes buildings of different construction phases, that is why we have a small confusion. Stoai A1-3 and B1-2(like they are characterized from the excavators) are simply stoai with Dorian colonnades, dated in mid 6th -mid 5th BC centuries the first and late 6th BC-late 5th BC or even early 4th centuries the second. Later, in the 4th BC century, belongs the B4, a simply stoa with great depth and Dorian colonnade, and finally the B5 which was rebuilt in greater depth in the 2nd BC in Pergamon style, with double colonnade, Ionian in the inner part and Dorian outside, and many rooms-shops in a lower level because of the surface declination. The construction of the roof has many Egyptian influences. In the West side there is a stoa with double colonnade, also Ionian inside and Dorian outside, that belongs in 4th BC century but was rebuilt in the Hellenistic age. In the SW corner a Hecate temple was located, while infront of the west side stoa is a monumental construction with an altar-heroon of Battu.
Regarding the commercial activities Kyrene was famous for it’s wool ( I have to add here the sylphion. A curing herb, wide used in all the Med that period.-NIKOMAHOS).
In this article we have examined some representative examples of markets, giving a spheral view of the commercial centers in the wake of Alexander the great, and how they were organized. Considering not only the military achievements of Alexander but also the supplementary consequences of his campaign- which opened new trade routs and brought the Hellenic culture in contact with the east, leading to huge cultural and economical flourish- we all understand that it is fair to call the Macedonian King GREAT
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