Structures

Acropolis

It was a highly fortified citidel at the highest point of a city originally. Later, it became a location for religious buildings.

Agora

It was an open space used as the focal point for civic life. Political and legal business, commerce, public gatherings, markets, festivals, and athletic events were held here. It was usually square or rectangular, with roads leading to it. Later, it included statues, fountains, shrines, and stoas surrounding it.

Balaneia

It was the public bath. Within it, bathtubs were set in a regular pattern. The tubs were made of terra cotta or stone, and waterproofed with stucco or a surface pf glazed brick cubes. Sometimes, there would be two or three levels to provide different depths of water. There were also facilities for footbaths and showers.

Bouleuterion

It was a council house where the council met. Rectangular or square in shape, it had a single chamber or auditorium for council debates. Tiers of seats lined three sides.

Gymnasium

It was a school where men and boys participated in physical exercises. The focal point was an open court for wrestling and other sports and a running track. It was bordered by one or more stoas and a covered running track. There were rooms where the athletes oiled and dusted themselves, bathrooms, rooms for ball games, and lecture rooms.

Hippodrome

It was a track or stadium for chariot and horse racing. Little is known about it before the Roman period.

Odeion

It was a small roofed theatre for musical recitals and contests, poetry readings, and other performances. The term often referred to any small theatre.

Palaestra

It was a wrestling and boxing school. It had an open courtyard covered in sand and surrounded by a rectangular colonnade. Behind the colonnade were changing rooms and bathrooms. It was often part of a gymnasium.

Prytaneion

It was the building where the executive committee of the council met. There were ofices for the magistrates. Ambassadors were entertained there. Within the building was a perpetual fire, sacred to Hestia.

Stadium

It was a running track, mainly for foot races. It would be just over 183 meters (200 yards) long and about 27 meters (30 yards) wide. The sides were embanked, being held by retaining walls. Later, tiers of seats for spectators were included.

Stoa

It was a long roofed colonnade, having a wall on one long side and an open single or double row of columns on the other. The walls were decorated with inscriptions or paintings. It would be situated near temples or gymnasia, or along an agora. It became a standard civic building from the 5th century BCE.

Theatre

It was built from the 6th century BCE, being often a religious site. It was built into the slope of a hill or hollow, usually in a D-shape. It was an open-air structure. There were three main parts to a theatre. The place where the spectators sat was the koilon. The orchestra was a level circular area in front of the seats. Here the chorus and the actors performed. Behind the orchestra was the skene, which was for storage or changing rooms.

Tholos

It was a circular building of unknown purpose. It had a circular roof that was supported by pillars. In some places, statues were housed here. In Athens, the official weights and measures were kept here.

Structures

Search

Follow Us

Google Translate

Nature’s Pharmacy