Overview:

The Stoa of Attalos is a restored historical stoa (covered walkway or portico) located in Athens, Greece. Built in the 2nd century BC, the classic design was created to impress by showcasing a monumental structure and its impressive architecture. It served as a commercial, cultural, and social center in ancient times and many merchants would meet here to attend auctions and exchange goods. The structure, which was originally commissioned by the prominent ruler Attalos II of Pergamon, boasts a two-story structure complete with 40 Ionic columns, lintels, and pediments, a two-story complex, and a colonnade running down its length. Today, it houses workshops, café-bars, and shops, as well as displaying coveted ancient Greek works of art inside the site’s archaeological museum. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Greece
Prominent Features:

The Stoa of Attalos is a landmark structure located in Ancient Agora of Athens, Greece. It was originally constructed in 159-138 BCE by and named after King Attalos II of Pergamum. Architecturally, it is known as a stoa, which is a long, colonnaded, portico used for public gathering. The Stoa of Attalos is the largest and best preserved in the ancient Agora and offers a unique insight into Athenian city life. Its prominent features include its two-story Doric colonnade facade, a vaulted gabled roof, colorful frescoes, and two courtyards. It also served a variety of uses at the time, including a storehouse, a market, a social gathering place, and a shrine. Today, the Stoa of Attalos is a major tourist attraction, and its meticulously restored interior serves as a museum for a variety of artifacts from the Ancient Greek time period. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Greece.

History:

The Stoa of Attalos was a site in ancient Athens, located in the Agora, the commercial and civic center of the city. It was built by Attalos II of Pergamon between 159-138 BCE and was meant to be a symbol of the power and grandeur of the Attalid dynasty. The stoa covered a large portion of the Agora and provided much needed shelter for merchants and the like as they engaged in their activities. It contained two stories of colonnades, with the second story having its own roof and upper gallery. In addition to providing shelter and a place to transact business, the Stoa also served as a center for education, where philosophy and rhetoric were taught. As an architectural accomplishment, the Stoa of Attalos was admired for its grandeur and beauty. The exterior was constructed of Pentelic marble and contained 30 Doric columns, set in double rows and running the entire length of the stoa. The interior columns were richly decorated with sculpture and carvings. The roof was originally flat, though later it was replaced with a third story that contained an upper gallery. The Stoa of Attalos has a long history. It originally served as a home for the Attalid dynasty and was a major focal point in the Agora. During the Roman period, the stoa served as a center for government administration. In the Byzantine period, it was renovated and returned to its original purpose; a covered walkway for merchants and travelers alike. This lasted until the early 19th century when the Ottoman Empire laid claim to the Agora. The Stoa was demolished in the early 1900s during a period of urban renewal and the area was turned into a park. Today, the Stoa of Attalos is recognized as an important part of Greek history. A partial reconstruction has been completed and it now stands as a reminder of one of the most important chapters in Greek antiquity. It is a popular tourist destination and a popular site for film shoots. Visit one of the famous monuments of Greece with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Stoa of Attalos was built in the 2nd century BC. 2. It was an ancient shopping mall, and housed more than 50 stores. 3. The Stoa was approximately 177 meters long and 25 meters wide. 4. The two-story building was built of marble and limestone. 5. It was a covered market with open shops and stalls. 6. It was the main commercial center of the ancient Greek city of Athens. 7. The Stoa of Attalos was named after its donor, Attalos II, the ruler of Pergamon from 159 BC to 138 BC. 8. The huge arcade had a roof supported by 170 Doric-style columns. 9. The remains of the Stoa of Attalos are a popular tourist attraction and an important archaeological site in modern Greece. 10. The Stoa is part of a larger area of ancient Athenian ruins known as the Agora. One of the historical monuments of Greece, it tells the story of a bygone era