Izmir, Turkey - The Agora
Aerial View, Courtesy Ms. Funda Yaka
About
Izmir, Turkey’s Agora
This information was extracted from the sign, present in 1961-1962, advertising the history of Izmir's Agora: This is an Agora of ancient city of Izmir "Smyrna." This is an official gathering place rather than a market place. Above shown plan constitutes from constructional point of view a marble paved court section in the center which is surrounded with galleries of three stories around that 165 meters long north gallery constitute a basilica with a gate at the center. It was first built [on] a firm foundation platform supported by strong archways in order to construct Agora on steep slopes of Kadifekale Mt. Pagos...and main Agora of two stories was built on that platform. The story that we see now on erected pillars is the second story of it. The third story which was above this is entirely ruined. On northern side of first story there are 28 shops. Their doors are on the main street of town which passes in front of them. The second story is carrying three pillars rows. There was an official court room "Exedra" in the basilica section where the courts were conducted. An earthquake in 178 AD has ruined the city of Izmir with Agora but afterwards it was rebuilt by the aid of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the following years. The original construction date of this rectangular Agora goes to older dates. The ruins that we see now is of Roman construction. It was unearthed during three excavations carried on in Namazgah, part of the present city which was once a Turkish cemetery. The south galleries are still unexcavated. The statues of Artemis, Poseidon and Demeter can be seen now here, which were unearthed during the excavations.
[Online since Dec 2004]
Some Definitions:
Basilica: A rectangular building used as a meeting hall.
Exedra: A Greek word originally meant a building apart from a dwelling. Later, it was used for a hall with seating, attached to a peristyle,
gymnasium palaestra, or private house. In gardents, it usually means an area with a semicircular area backed by a wall or hedge.
Peristyle: Found in Hellenistic Greek and Roman architecture, a peristyle is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns
surrounding the perimeter of building or a courtyard.
Stoa: A covered walkway or portico commonly for public use, seen in Greek architecture. Early Stoas were open at the entrance with columns,
usually of the “Doric” order, lining the side of a building.
Izmir, Turkey - The Agora
© www.hlswilliwaw.com
About
Izmir, Turkey’s Agora
This information was extracted from the sign, present in 1961-1962, advertising the history of Izmir's Agora: This is an Agora of ancient city of Izmir "Smyrna." This is an official gathering place rather than a market place. Above shown plan constitutes from constructional point of view a marble paved court section in the center which is surrounded with galleries of three stories around that 165 meters long north gallery constitute a basilica with a gate at the center. It was first built [on] a firm foundation platform supported by strong archways in order to construct Agora on steep slopes of Kadifekale Mt. Pagos...and main Agora of two stories was built on that platform. The story that we see now on erected pillars is the second story of it. The third story which was above this is entirely ruined. On northern side of first story there are 28 shops. Their doors are on the main street of town which passes in front of them. The second story is carrying three pillars rows. There was an official court room "Exedra" in the basilica section where the courts were conducted. An earthquake in 178 AD has ruined the city of Izmir with Agora but afterwards it was rebuilt by the aid of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the following years. The original construction date of this rectangular Agora goes to older dates. The ruins that we see now is of Roman construction. It was unearthed during three excavations carried on in Namazgah, part of the present city which was once a Turkish cemetery. The south galleries are still unexcavated. The statues of Artemis, Poseidon and Demeter can be seen now here, which were unearthed during the excavations.
Some Definitions:
Basilica: A rectangular building used as a meeting hall.
Exedra: A Greek word originally meant a building apart from a dwelling.
Later, it was used for a hall with seating, attached to a
peristyle, gymnasium palaestra, or private house. In gardents, it usually
means an area with a semicircular area backed by a wall or hedge.
Peristyle: Found in Hellenistic Greek and Roman architecture, a peristyle
is a continuous porch formed by a row of columns surrounding the
perimeter of building or a courtyard.
Stoa: A covered walkway or portico commonly for public use, seen in
Greek architecture. Early Stoas were open at the entrance with columns,
usually of the “Doric” order, lining the side of a building.
stylobates: As seen in classical Greek architecture, a stylobate is the top step
of the crepidoma, the stepped platform upon which colonnades of temple
columns are placed (it is the floor of the temple).
