Εργασίες στην Αρχαία Αγορά της Θεσσαλονίκης
Part of : Το Αρχαιολογικό Έργο στη Μακεδονία και στη Θράκη ; Vol.7, No.1, 1993, pages 321-328
Issue:
Pages:
321-328
Parallel Title:
The Ancient Agora of Thessaloniki
Abstract:
Archaeological investigation in the Ancient Agora of Thessaloniki started30 years ago as a rescue excavation. By the end of the 1960's the most importantparts of the ancient complex had been already brought into light.During the 1970s some consolidation and restoration work has been made,mainly in the Odeion. Excavations though were not completed.Since 1990 the Archaeological Service of Thessaloniki in co-operationwith the Aristotelion University has begun a new project for further investigationthat will lead to the eventual completion of the main study of theAncient Agora to become a vivid part of the city and to be opened to the public.For this purpose excavation have taken place during the whole year in thearea among the four main streets surrounding the archaeological site. Unfortunately,the original extension of the Agora is beyond the conventional limitsand it is most probable that some serious problems will remain unsolved.Our investigation until today leads us to conclude that the Ancient Agoracomprises an area of about 2 acres in the centre of the Roman City. It is oblongin shape with proportions' 1:2 with a north-south orientation by two parallelstreets of the city. It occupies the length of an ancient Greek stadion and ishalf a stadion wide. The size is equal to three and a half insulas of the romancity including the width of the intermediate streets. The complex was setaround a rectangular paved square having a length of 146 m. Along the threesides double colonnaded stoas existed and in the background a section ofrooms. On the southern side, due to the natural inclination of the ground, aconstruction of a double Cryptoporticus was created under the double stoasince it functioned as a foundation for the stoa and at the same time as a retainingwall of the additional technical filling with earth made for levellingthe square. In direct connection with the Cryptoporticus to the southern side, arow of shops was created with their entrances facing the paved street 4,5 mwide.Access to the double stoas was under control and was only possible incertain parts since marble panels were put at the inter-columniations. One ofthose parts was the very first inter-columniation of the southern stoa; becauseof its function it is larger than the others, to set up a marble door. In fact adirect visit to the paved square was only free from the north side, where weexpect to discover the most important street of the roman city. We call thesouth street that passes in front of the shops the «commercial street». Theascent is via a staircase 3,5 m high to the upper part, where a tiny parallelstreet end on the same level.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Αρχαία αγορά, Θεσσαλονίκη
Notes:
Το άρθρο περιέχει εικόνες.
