The term agora may sound faintly familiar because of a phobia popular in the media -- agoraphobia. Basically, the Greek agora, like the forum that served similar purposes in Rome, was an outdoor market and meeting place. Since much of ancient Mediterranean life was conducted out of doors, the agora was the scene of religious, political, commercial, and social activity. Like the Roman fora (pl. of forum) some agora became specialized.The term agora can refer to the assembly itself, as well as the place of assembly.An agora was typically in the center of the city. In Athens, the agora was northwest of the Acropolis. This agora was bounded on four sides by public buildings. Unlike much of Athens, it wasn't destroyed by the Persians, but was by Alaric and the Visigoths in A.D. 395.
Source: John McKesson Camp II "Athens, topography" The Oxford Classical Dictionary. © Oxford University Press 1949, 1970, 1996, 2005.
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Google Earth Tour of the Ancient Agora
Photo of the Roman agora in Athens.
CC Flickr User Eustaquio Santimano
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lillisoft.tk
I was reading a novel about Alexandria, Egypt just this evening and the word “agora” came up very often-thanks for posting this!
Regazza – I’m glad to hear that. I am trying to pick terms that relate to recent content or ones that are generally useful.
Today’s term (septuagint) is a little less generally useful, but it’s based on the idea that September is named for the number 7 and is topically appropriate.