[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Sokrates

http://agathe.gr/democracy/sokrates.html

Sokrates The philosopher Sokrates was one of many Athenians critical of the people and their control over affairs of state. His probing public debates with fellow citizens led to his trial for impiety ... Sokrates The philosopher Sokrates was one of many Athenians critical of the people and their control over affairs of state. ... I tried to persuade each one of you not to think more of practical advantages than of his mental and moral well-being, or in general to think more of advantage than of well-being in the case of the state or of anything else ... ... Sokrates' confinement and execution in the state prison of Athens are described in some detail by Plato, and his description corresponds in several respects to a large building lying southwest of the Agora square.

[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: The Ekklesia

http://agathe.gr/democracy/the_ekklesia.html

The Ekklesia (Citizens' Assembly) All Athenian citizens had the right to attend and vote in the Ekklesia, a full popular assembly which met about every 10 days. All decrees (psephismata) were ratified ... In theory every assembly represented the collective will of all the male citizens of Athens, although the actual capacity of the Pnyx never seems to have exceeded 13,500, and for much of the Classical period it held only about 6,000. ... Three phases of the Pnyx. Drawing by John Travlos. ... Visible today are the foundation of the curved retaining wall of the auditorium of phase III and the rock-cut bema (stand for speakers), which projects from the scarp.

[Agora Webpage] Publications: Picture Books

http://agathe.gr/publications/picture_books.html

Picture Books The Athenian Agora Picture Book series, started in 1951, aims to make information about life in the ancient commercial and political center of Athens available to a wide audience. Each booklet ... Using original materials and techniques, the modern builders learned much about the construction and purpose of stoas, a ubiquitous classical building type. ... The booklet illustrates many different forms of amphora, all set into context by the well-written text. ... Google Books | English PDF | Buy Online | Search for Items Inside Garden Lore of Ancient Athens Authors: Burr Thompson, D., Griswold, R.