504:
454:
50:
57:
500:
terrace, and the people sat facing a speaker's platform on the south. Some sources stated that this retaining wall was constructed around 500 BC for the purpose of holding the soil that was brought in to form the level space for the bema. Part of the stepped terrace wall is preserved, as well as a staircase with rock-cut steps leading up to it from the direction of the Agora. The size of the auditorium (as it is restored by the excavators) is not that much larger than Pnyx I.
516:
bedrock. (Traces of the quarrying process can still be seen at the eastern side of the great rock-cut scarp). On a terrace above (south of) the speaker's platform, the foundations were begun for 2 long stoas (but these seem never to have been finished). It is unknown for how many years Pnyx III was used as the meeting place of the ekklesia, and certainly by the 1st century B.C. the assembly held their meetings in the
Theater of Dionysos on the South Slope of the Acropolis.
856:
599:
871:
34:
492:
389:, the "stepping stone" or speakers' platform. This was the oratorical platform from which noted politicians such as Pericles and orators "fulmined over Greece." Some scholars note that the environs and position of the Pnyx as well as its openness and objects of appeal, provided the ancient Greek speakers with the inspiration that not even the
481:). In the earliest days of Athenian democracy (after the reforms of Kleisthenes in 508 B.C.), the ekklesia met in the Agora. Sometime in the early 5th century, the meeting place was moved to a hill south and west of the Acropolis. This new meeting place came to be called "Pnyx" (from the Greek word meaning "tightly packed together").
487:
Pnyx I: Probably constructed in the early 5th century B.C.. The people apparently sat on the hillside facing a speaker's platform on the north. The seating capacity may have been anywhere from 6,000 to 13,000 people. This phase is represented archaeologically only by a few cuttings in the bedrock and
552:
was in ancient times an area of bare rock, on which about 6,000 men could stand. This can be taken as a reasonable estimate of the number of politically active citizens (citizens were free males born in the city, or perhaps 20% of the adult population). There were wooden seats for the members of the
562:
In theory, all citizens were equal and all of the male citizens had the right to speak. In practice, relatively few citizens actually spoke or proposed actions. A citizen who made a proposal might be subjected to a future prosecution (graphe paranomon) if the proposal was illegal or came to be seen
519:
Finally, in the Roman period, part of the Pnyx was used as a sanctuary of Zeus
Hypsistos. Evidence for the sanctuary consist of c. 50 niches for votive plaques cut into the bedrock scarp east of the speaker's platform. Many of the votive plaques are carved with representations of human body parts
499:
Pnyx II: Probably late 5th century B.C. In this phase the orientation of the auditorium was apparently reversed (a reconstruction that is based more upon ancient literary sources than from the actual archaeological record). A stepped terrace wall was created on the north to support an artificial
515:
Pnyx III: The Pnyx was rebuilt and expanded in the 3rd quarter of the 4th century B.C., probably around 345-335 B.C. A massive, curved, retaining wall was built (or at least begun) on the north. The southern side of the auditorium and speaker's platform (bema) were quarried out of the natural
376:
The Pnyx is a small, rocky hill surrounded by parkland, with a large flat platform of eroded stone set into its side, and by steps carved on its slope. It was the meeting place of one of the world's earliest known democratic legislatures, the
Athenian
621:
These excavations discovered the foundations of the important buildings at the Pnyx, although nothing else remains of them. These included the two large stoas, erected between 330 and 326 BC, the Altar of
637:
are the foundations of Meton's heliotropion, the oldest known astronomical observatory, where he performed several of his measurements that led to the calculations involving the eponymous 19-year
447:
and ended at the western end of the summit where it joined the
Diateichisma. The wall featured seven towers set with 40-meter interval while the connecting walls were strengthened by buttresses.
1494:
393:
could rival. It is described as a result of previous reforms that included the utilization of demography and topography for the purpose of serving the interests of a rhetorical culture.
1215:
553:
Council of 500, who were selected by lot for terms of a single year to run the city on a day-to-day basis, and prepare the agenda for the
Assembly. In later times two
1133:
795:
Freeth, Tony; Y. Bitsakis; X. Moussas; M.G. Edmunds (November 30, 2006). "Decoding the ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the
Antikythera Mechanism".
903:
1362:
314:
in the centre of Athens. The "mainly natural hollow" was first used from before 500 BC to perhaps 404 BC, when the arrangement was changed by adding a
191:
102:
435:
The Pnyx was protected by a defense wall built in the fourth century BC and reconstructed a century later. The new walls, made of almost solid
1455:
1179:
630:(first century BC), and the Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos. Most of these buildings were erected after the Pnyx had lost its real significance.
566:
Democratic government at Athens was suspended in 411 BC and again in 404 BC with the assumption of power by oligarchies during crises in the
299:
gathered on the Pnyx to host their popular assemblies, thus making the hill one of the earliest and most important sites in the creation of
1312:
337:
transferred political power to the citizenry. It was then outside the city proper, but close enough to be convenient. It looks down on the
1389:
1057:
546:
states that the Pnyx had enough standing room for as many as 20,000 citizens, though this is disputed. The grassy area in front of the
1189:
1072:
751:
1169:
896:
721:
49:
538:
suggest the Pnyx was able to hold about 6,000 citizens, though later expansions may have accommodated 8,000 or as many as 13,000.
1210:
1174:
1067:
460:
404:), "equal speech", i.e. the equal right of every citizen to debate matters of policy. The other two principles of democracy were
610:
and definitely confirmed the site as the Pnyx. Large-scale excavations were conducted at various times between 1930 and 1937 by
1019:
964:
590:
in 322 BC. After his fall, the
Athenians continued to run their internal affairs according to democratic forms for centuries.
1332:
1164:
1352:
656:
1509:
1431:
1357:
1342:
1062:
889:
655:
Today the site of the Pnyx is under the control of the
Ephorate of Prehistorical and Classical Antiquities of the Greek
607:
503:
443:, were two-meter thick. The stretch began on a northern end with a tower that stood south of the Melitides Gate of the
578:, but in 403 BC the democrats seized power again and the meetings at the Pnyx resumed. Athens lost its independence to
424:
was expressed by the presiding officer of the Pnyx assembly, who formally opened each debate with the open invitation "
1499:
1194:
453:
1337:
1220:
1138:
1128:
488:
a boundary stone (not found in situ), so that it is impossible to determine the date and size with any precision.
1184:
379:
322:
1504:
1441:
1110:
969:
939:
1241:
1090:
934:
338:
474:
259:
1436:
649:
587:
1014:
979:
954:
804:
778:
615:
579:
563:
as detrimental to Athens. There was a rule that citizens aged over 50 had a right to be heard first.
543:
535:
365:
292:
150:
1317:
1024:
974:
929:
508:
1100:
1029:
949:
642:
529:
444:
1327:
1047:
820:
747:
717:
567:
344:
At this site all the great political struggles of Athens of the "Golden Age" were fought out.
307:
875:
602:
Albumen print of carved speaker's staircase of the Pnyx, taken circa 1865–1895, looking west.
586:
in 338 BC; but they continued to run their internal affairs democratically until the coup by
1347:
1246:
1236:
1154:
1052:
1039:
984:
812:
214:
333:
The Pnyx was used for popular assemblies in Athens as early as 507 BC, when the reforms of
1294:
1269:
1119:
1009:
311:
808:
559:, or covered galleries, were built to protect the dignitaries against the rain and sun.
1284:
1082:
921:
836:
645:
611:
575:
315:
296:
272:
267:
160:
1488:
1322:
1274:
1159:
994:
861:
659:. The surrounding parkland is fenced, but can be visited free of charge at any time.
638:
420:), equality of vote and equal opportunity to assume political office. The right of
744:
Strolling
Through Athens: Fourteen Unforgettable Walks Through Europe's Oldest City
520:(eyes, breasts, etc.), suggesting that this Zeus Hypsistos was a healing divinity.
714:
Rhetorical Action in
Ancient Athens: Persuasive Artistry from Solon to Demosthenes
1410:
1279:
1004:
390:
361:
334:
1415:
1264:
999:
959:
851:
353:
1470:
1457:
766:
473:
The Pnyx was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly (
117:
104:
1095:
944:
881:
583:
349:
300:
824:
870:
598:
1367:
627:
345:
816:
318:
below the speakers' platform, with the space between filled with earth.
33:
1402:
1381:
1299:
491:
436:
769:// The Stoa: A Consortium for Electronic Publication in the Humanities
495:
The Pnyx with the carved steps of the speaker's platform in the centre
1394:
913:
571:
539:
484:
In the early history of the Pnyx, three phases can be distinguished:
440:
357:
306:
The Pnyx is located less than 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) west of the
288:
284:
90:
80:
65:
626:
Agoraios, erected at the same time, but removed during the reign of
325:, with the late form perhaps reflecting changes in theatre design.
1289:
597:
490:
396:
As such, the Pnyx is the material embodiment of the principle of
634:
623:
574:
and their allies in Athens installed a dictatorship, called the
555:
548:
385:
995:
Remains of the Acharnian Road, Acharnian Gate and Cemetery Site
885:
614:, in collaboration first with K. Kourouniotes and later with
235:
341:, which was the commercial and social centre of the city.
244:
220:
1096:
House of Saint Philothei/Benizelos-Palaiologos mansion
356:
spoke here, within sight of the Parthenon, temple of
250:
247:
241:
226:
223:
217:
432:", "Who wishes to speak to the Popular Assembly?").
232:
1424:
1380:
1255:
1229:
1203:
1147:
1118:
1109:
1081:
1038:
920:
238:
197:
187:
179:
171:
166:
156:
146:
138:
133:
96:
86:
75:
1216:Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite
606:Excavations at the site were begun in 1910 by the
783:La Vie Quotidienne en Grèce au Siècle de Périclès
1495:Ancient Greek buildings and structures in Athens
383:(assembly), and the flat stone platform was the
897:
746:. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 174.
8:
321:The Pnyx was probably the prototype for the
19:
1363:Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center
507:Pnyx foreground, speaker's platform right,
1115:
904:
890:
882:
32:
18:
502:
843:, 1957, Penguin, Pelican history of art
668:
641:which he introduced in 432 BC into the
1399:Athens Marina (formerly Faliro Marina)
716:. Carbondale: SIU Press. p. 121.
266:
7:
737:
735:
733:
692:
690:
283:) is a hill or hillside in central
701:. London: John Murray. p. 55.
699:Athens and Attica: Notes of a Tour
14:
1134:Kapodistrian University of Athens
648:, a calendar that appears in the
310:and about 2 km south-west of the
64:Location of the Pnyx on a map of
1211:Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
869:
854:
697:Wordsworth, Christopher (1855).
452:
291:. Beginning as early as 507 BC (
213:
55:
48:
412:), equality under the law, and
364:delivered his vilifications of
1333:National Observatory of Athens
1180:National Archaeological Museum
1165:Byzantine and Christian Museum
1:
1432:Dionysiou Areopagitou Street
785:, Librairie Hachette, Paris.
608:Greek Archaeological Society
56:
1313:Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
1528:
1221:Saint Irene church, Athens
1190:National Historical Museum
1139:National Library of Greece
527:
478:
263:
1308:
1000:Remains of the Long Walls
980:Philopappos Hill/Monument
276:
43:
31:
24:
1442:First Cemetery of Athens
970:Odeon of Herodes Atticus
469:Early history and phases
323:Greek theatre auditorium
1020:Temple of Olympian Zeus
430:Τίς ἀγορεύειν βούλεται;
426:Tís agoreúein boúletai?
329:Historical significance
118:37.971667°N 23.719444°E
38:Pnyx speaker's platform
1353:Olympic Sports Complex
1170:Museum of Cycladic Art
965:Monument of Lysicrates
712:Fredal, James (2006).
603:
512:
496:
16:Hill in Athens, Greece
1471:37.97167°N 23.71944°E
1411:Marina of Vouliagmeni
742:Freely, John (2004).
650:Antikythera Mechanism
633:West to the Altar of
601:
588:Demetrius of Phaleron
506:
494:
1358:Presidential Mansion
1343:Old Parliament House
1058:Holy Apostles Church
1015:Temple of Hephaestus
878:at Wikimedia Commons
582:after the battle of
580:Philip II of Macedon
536:Mogens Herman Hansen
463:Panorama of the Pnyx
366:Philip II of Macedon
293:Fifth-century Athens
151:Fifth-century Athens
123:37.971667; 23.719444
1510:Landmarks in Athens
1467: /
1390:Agios Kosmas Marina
1318:Athens Concert Hall
1073:Holy Trinity Church
1025:Theatre of Dionysus
975:Panathenaic Stadium
912:Major landmarks of
817:10.1038/nature05357
809:2006Natur.444..587F
657:Ministry of Culture
192:Ministry of Culture
114: /
21:
1500:Athenian democracy
1476:37.97167; 23.71944
1101:Tzistarakis Mosque
1030:Tower of the Winds
950:Aristotle’s Lyceum
841:Greek Architecture
604:
542:classical scholar
530:Athenian democracy
524:Athenian democracy
513:
497:
479:ἐκκλησία, ekklesía
445:Themistoclean Wall
198:Public access
1450:
1449:
1376:
1375:
1328:Gennadius Library
1195:Numismatic Museum
1175:Kerameikos Museum
1068:Pantanassa Church
1063:Kapnikarea Church
1048:Little Metropolis
955:Hadrian's Library
874:Media related to
803:(7119): 587–591.
779:Robert Flacelière
568:Peloponnesian War
544:Robert Flacelière
534:Scholars such as
287:, the capital of
205:
204:
1517:
1482:
1481:
1479:
1478:
1477:
1472:
1468:
1465:
1464:
1463:
1460:
1348:Old Royal Palace
1338:National Theatre
1247:Pedion tou Areos
1242:National Gardens
1185:National Gallery
1155:Acropolis Museum
1116:
1053:Daphni Monastery
985:Platonic Academy
906:
899:
892:
883:
873:
864:
859:
858:
857:
829:
828:
792:
786:
776:
770:
764:
758:
757:
739:
728:
727:
709:
703:
702:
694:
685:
682:
676:
673:
480:
456:
278:
270:
265:
257:
256:
253:
252:
249:
246:
243:
240:
237:
234:
229:
228:
225:
222:
219:
129:
128:
126:
125:
124:
119:
115:
112:
111:
110:
107:
59:
58:
52:
36:
22:
1527:
1526:
1520:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1515:
1514:
1505:Hills of Athens
1485:
1484:
1475:
1473:
1469:
1466:
1461:
1458:
1456:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1446:
1420:
1372:
1304:
1270:Kolonaki Square
1257:
1251:
1237:Lycabettus Hill
1225:
1199:
1143:
1105:
1077:
1034:
1010:Stoa of Attalos
940:Arch of Hadrian
916:
910:
860:
855:
853:
850:
837:Lawrence, A. W.
833:
832:
794:
793:
789:
777:
773:
765:
761:
754:
741:
740:
731:
724:
711:
710:
706:
696:
695:
688:
683:
679:
674:
670:
665:
616:Robert Scranton
596:
532:
526:
471:
466:
465:
464:
462:
457:
374:
331:
312:Syntagma Square
268:[pnýks]
231:
216:
212:
183:Public property
122:
120:
116:
113:
108:
105:
103:
101:
100:
71:
70:
69:
68:
62:
61:
60:
39:
27:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1525:
1524:
1521:
1513:
1512:
1507:
1502:
1497:
1487:
1486:
1448:
1447:
1445:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1428:
1426:
1422:
1421:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1407:Olympic Marine
1405:
1403:Glyfada Marina
1400:
1397:
1392:
1386:
1384:
1378:
1377:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1309:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1285:Omonoia Square
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1261:
1259:
1258:Neighbourhoods
1253:
1252:
1250:
1249:
1244:
1239:
1233:
1231:
1227:
1226:
1224:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1207:
1205:
1201:
1200:
1198:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1151:
1149:
1145:
1144:
1142:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1125:
1123:
1113:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1091:Fethiye Mosque
1087:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1044:
1042:
1036:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1017:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
932:
926:
924:
918:
917:
911:
909:
908:
901:
894:
886:
880:
879:
866:
865:
849:
848:External links
846:
845:
844:
831:
830:
787:
771:
759:
753:978-1850435952
752:
729:
722:
704:
686:
677:
667:
666:
664:
661:
646:Attic calendar
612:Homer Thompson
595:
592:
576:Thirty Tyrants
528:Main article:
525:
522:
470:
467:
459:
458:
451:
450:
449:
373:
370:
330:
327:
316:retaining wall
203:
202:
199:
195:
194:
189:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
173:
169:
168:
164:
163:
161:Ancient Greece
158:
154:
153:
148:
144:
143:
140:
136:
135:
131:
130:
98:
94:
93:
88:
84:
83:
77:
73:
72:
63:
54:
53:
47:
46:
45:
44:
41:
40:
37:
29:
28:
25:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1523:
1522:
1511:
1508:
1506:
1503:
1501:
1498:
1496:
1493:
1492:
1490:
1483:
1480:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1427:
1423:
1417:
1416:Marina of Zea
1414:
1412:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1395:Alimos Marina
1393:
1391:
1388:
1387:
1385:
1383:
1379:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1323:Athens Towers
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1307:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1275:Kotzia Square
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1254:
1248:
1245:
1243:
1240:
1238:
1235:
1234:
1232:
1230:Gardens/Parks
1228:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1208:
1206:
1202:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1160:Benaki Museum
1158:
1156:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1146:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1108:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1045:
1043:
1041:
1037:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
935:Ancient Agora
933:
931:
928:
927:
925:
923:
919:
915:
907:
902:
900:
895:
893:
888:
887:
884:
877:
872:
868:
867:
863:
862:Greece portal
852:
847:
842:
838:
835:
834:
826:
822:
818:
814:
810:
806:
802:
798:
791:
788:
784:
780:
775:
772:
768:
763:
760:
755:
749:
745:
738:
736:
734:
730:
725:
723:9780809325948
719:
715:
708:
705:
700:
693:
691:
687:
684:Lawrence, 280
681:
678:
675:Lawrence, 280
672:
669:
662:
660:
658:
653:
651:
647:
644:
640:
639:Metonic cycle
636:
631:
629:
625:
619:
617:
613:
609:
600:
593:
591:
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
564:
560:
558:
557:
551:
550:
545:
541:
537:
531:
523:
521:
517:
510:
505:
501:
493:
489:
485:
482:
476:
475:Ancient Greek
468:
461:
455:
448:
446:
442:
441:ashlar blocks
438:
433:
431:
427:
423:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
394:
392:
388:
387:
382:
381:
371:
369:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
347:
342:
340:
339:ancient Agora
336:
328:
326:
324:
319:
317:
313:
309:
304:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
274:
269:
261:
260:Ancient Greek
255:
210:
200:
196:
193:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
165:
162:
159:
155:
152:
149:
145:
141:
137:
132:
127:
99:
95:
92:
89:
85:
82:
78:
74:
67:
51:
42:
35:
30:
23:
1452:
1437:Ermou Street
1122:'s "Trilogy"
989:
840:
800:
796:
790:
782:
774:
762:
743:
713:
707:
698:
680:
671:
654:
632:
620:
605:
565:
561:
554:
547:
533:
518:
514:
498:
486:
483:
472:
434:
429:
428:" (Greek: "
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
405:
401:
397:
395:
384:
378:
375:
343:
332:
320:
305:
280:
208:
206:
1474: /
1280:Monastiraki
1256:Squares and
1005:Roman Agora
594:Excavations
511:background.
418:ἰσοπολιτεία
414:isopoliteía
391:Roman Forum
362:Demosthenes
335:Cleisthenes
121: /
97:Coordinates
1489:Categories
1462:23°43′10″E
1459:37°58′18″N
1265:Anafiotika
960:Kerameikos
663:References
354:Alcibiades
188:Management
167:Site notes
109:23°43′10″E
106:37°58′18″N
1040:Byzantine
945:Areopagus
930:Acropolis
643:lunisolar
584:Chaeronea
509:Acropolis
350:Aristides
308:Acropolis
301:democracy
297:Athenians
180:Ownership
172:Condition
1368:Zappeion
1295:Syntagma
1204:Churches
825:17136087
767:The Pnyx
628:Augustus
572:Spartans
422:isēgoría
416:(Greek:
410:ἰσονομία
408:(Greek:
406:isonomía
402:ἰσηγορία
400:(Greek:
398:isēgoría
380:ekklesia
372:The area
346:Pericles
157:Cultures
79:Athens,
76:Location
1382:Marinas
1300:Thiseio
1148:Museums
1129:Academy
1083:Ottoman
922:Ancient
805:Bibcode
781:(1959)
437:masonry
360:. Here
295:), the
147:Periods
139:Founded
134:History
1425:Others
1120:Hansen
1111:Modern
914:Athens
823:
797:Nature
750:
720:
570:. The
540:French
358:Athena
289:Greece
285:Athens
175:Ruined
142:507 BC
91:Attica
87:Region
81:Greece
66:Athens
1290:Plaka
556:stoae
281:Pnyka
277:Πνύκα
273:Greek
26:Πνύκα
990:Pnyx
876:Pnyx
821:PMID
748:ISBN
718:ISBN
635:Zeus
624:Zeus
549:bema
439:and
386:bema
352:and
264:Πνύξ
209:Pnyx
207:The
20:Pnyx
813:doi
801:444
1491::
839:,
819:.
811:.
799:.
732:^
689:^
652:.
618:.
477::
368:.
348:,
303:.
279:,
275::
271:;
262::
258:;
201:No
905:e
898:t
891:v
827:.
815::
807::
756:.
726:.
254:/
251:s
248:k
245:ɪ
242:n
239:ˈ
236:ə
233:p
230:,
227:s
224:k
221:ɪ
218:n
215:/
211:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
