Details:
The Stoa of Attalos is located in the Ancient Agora of Athens and was built between 159 and 138 BC.
Information:
The building was built under Attalos II, the King of Pergamon, and thus takes his name. The Agora was a market place in ancient times and became somewhat of a museum-garden after the Romans built the Roman Agora. The Stoa itself was destroyed in the third century and was then used as a fortified wall. The site was not fully excavated until the end of the nineteenth century and the Stoa was not reconstructed until the 1950s. With funding from J.D. Rockefeller, the American School of Classical Studies at Athens used the original building material, found at the ruined site, to reconstruct the Stoa. The Stoa of Attalos today houses the Ancient Agora Museum which mainly showcases artifacts relating to the Athenian democracy, but also has works ranging from the seventh century BC to the eleventh century AD.
This tow story building provides shade from the heat, as well as a spectacular view of the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis through its 115 meter long double colonnaded facade.
Did you known?
The Stoa of Attalos was built as a gift to Athens by King Attalos II, who had studied in the city under the philosopher Karneades.