Roman Agora of Athens
“Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens…”. Acts 17:15
The Roman Forum of Athens is much “newer” than the famous Ancient Greek Agora. In the 1st century BC, Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus contributed funds toward the Roman agora, which would be used as a commercial business center in Athens as opposed to the administrative, religious and philosophical Greek Agora (with temples pre 500 BC and administrative legal functions from at least 425 BC onward). The two centers were connected by a marble pedestrian walkway leading from the Library of Pantainos in the Greek Agora to the west gate of the Roman Agora, the Gate of Athena Archegetes.
It is of course impossible to know if Paul would have walked through here during his seemingly brief stay in Athens. The agora at that time would have been an open air courtyard with colonnades around the sides. Excavations have found a row of shops on the eastern side colonnade. One the most remarkable features he would have seen then and is still prominent today is the Tower of the Winds dating to the 1st century BC. It is a tall 8 sided ancient weather station. The top held a weather vane. There were sun dials mounted on the outside walls and the interior held a water clock. Around the top are friezes of the Greek deities of the eight winds. The Tower of the Winds is right adjacent to an impressively large latrine which had seats for 68!
The rest of what can be seen at the Roman Agora today post dates Paul’s time / biblical era. Hadrian’s library was built at the edge of the Roman Agora around 132 AD. The library would have been incredibly impressive with a courtyard and reflecting pool made with Phrygian marble. Ceilings were gilded with gold. Columns were made of unusual purple streaked marble from Turkey. All of these are gone now. The outline of a Byzantine era tetraconch church approximately 5th century AD can still be seen.
Gate of Athena Archegetis, west entrance to the Roman Agora of Athens.
