Athenian Agora Guide Books

You can view online or download low resolution PDFs of the following Athenian Agora guide books by clicking on the associated links. These are free for personal use. For permission to use in course packs, or for other commercial purposes, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01983, USA; Tel:978 750 8400; Fax: 978 750 4250; http://www.copyright.com.

The Athenian Agora: A Short Guide in Color By John McK.Camp II This colorful overview is intended primarily for visitors to the site, but also provides a useful introduction to the visible remains. After a brief history of the Agora, the principal monuments are described, and then the reader is taken on a counterclockwise tour around the site. The author is the current Director of Excavations at the Athenian Agora, and this guide therefore presents the most up-to-date information available. 48pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 16, revised 2003) ISBN: 0-87661-643-0 Download English Version PDF (5.8 MB) Download Greek Version PDF (4.4 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

The Athenian Agora: A Guide to the Excavation and Museum This new edition of the Agora guide takes account of the important recent excavations which have taken place since 1976, the year of publication of the third edition. In addition, this version has been directed specifically toward those actually visiting the site: it is somewhat more compact than its predecessor and the illustrations have been chosen to help the visitor recreate the site in his mind's eye. (American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1990) ISBN: 960-7067-00-2 View Online Version PDF forthcoming.

Athenian Agora Monographs

This series of publications consists of the results of excavations conducted in the Athenian Agora by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. Although this series is not yet available in PDF format, the object catalogs from several of these monographs have been integrated into the databases available on this web site. You can search for catalog entries using the form "AV 12.1" (i.e. volume twelve, catalog entry number one), or browse the catalogs by thematic category (links below). You can also order these monographs online through Oxbow Books.

Browse the following object catalogs by theme: Volume 12: Black and Plain Pottery Volume 26: The Greek Coins Volume 29: Hellenistic Pottery Volume 30: Attic Red-Figured and White-Ground Pottery

The Birth of Democracy

An exhibition celebrating the 2500th anniversary of the beginnings of democracy in Athens took place at the National archives, Washington DC in January 1994. This informative catalogue includes colour illustrations of the objects that were displayed: sculptures, architectural models and small objects from Athens and from museums in America and Europe.

The Birth of Democracy edited by Josiah Ober and Charles W. Hedrick 179p with b/w and color photos. (Am. Sch. of Classical Studies in Athens, 1993) ISBN: 0876619502 View Online Version Purchase from Oxbow Books

Athenian Agora 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 describes a particular aspect of everyday activity, as revealed through the work of archaeologists and historians. The authors are all experts in their fields and many of the books are written by the original excavators. The texts are illustrated with material from the Agora excavations, much of which is either on display at the site or in the museum.

Physical copies of these books are easy to obtain from our distributors in either the USA or UK. By clicking on the associated links, you will be transferred to your nearest outlet. Class sets can be ordered via bookstores.

You can also immediately download low resolution PDFs by clicking on the download links. These are free for personal use. For permission to use in course packs, or for other commercial purposes, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01983, USA; Tel:978 750 8400; Fax: 978 750 4250; http://www.copyright.com.

The Athenian Citizen: Democracy in the Athenian Agora by Mabel Lang revised by John McK. Camp II The Agora was the civic center of classical Athens and, through studying materials found there, much can be learnt about the origins of the world's first and possibly most representative democracy. The author discusses many aspects of administration, from the standardization of weights and measures to the ingenious workings of the 'klepsydra', the water clock which regulated a public speaker's time. Many of the buildings and devices she discusses are on display on site and in the museum. This edition has many new color illustrations and has been revised and updated. 32 pp, 40 col pls (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 4, 2004) ISBN: 0-87661-642-2 Download PDF (5.0 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

The Games at Athens By Jennifer Neils and Stephen V. Tracy With the return to Athens of the Olympic Games in 2004, this timely book focuses on the Panathenaic festival. Although it was not one of the Panhellenic "crown" festivals, the week-long religious and civic celebration held in the city once every four years was a dramatic event which drew competitors from all over the Greek world by its prestige and valuable prizes. The amount of excavated material recovered from the Agora makes the Panathenaic festival one of the best documented events in the ancient ritual calendar. Vividly illustrated in full-color. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 25, 1998) ISBN: 0-87661-639-2 Download PDF (1.9 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Horses and Horsemanship in the Athenian Agora By John McK. Camp II Horses provided the motive force which powered much of the Athenian economy, and depictions are found throughout the Agora. From the Mycenaean period onwards, elegant horsemanship was associated with high status and the display of equestrian brilliance was a central feature of the horse racing and chariot races held at the Panathenaic festival. Beautifully illustrated in full color. 40 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 24, 1998) ISBN: 0-87661-639-2 Download PDF (3.0 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Life, Death, and Litigation in the Athenian Agora By Mabel Lang Court TV would have been nothing new for ancient Athenians, as the sheer quantity of evidence found in the Agora for legal activity makes clear. Every kind of case, from assault and battery to murder, and from small debts to contested fortunes, were heard in various buildings and spaces around the civic center, and the speeches given in defense and prosecution remain some of the masterpieces of Greek literature. As well as describing the spaces where judgments were made (such as the Stoa Basileios, office of the King Archon), the author discusses the progress of some famous cases (known from the speeches of orators like Demosthenes), such as the patrimony suit of a woman named Plangon against the nobleman Mantias, or the assault charge leveled by Ariston against Konon and his sons. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 23, 1994) ISBN: 0-87661-637-6 Download PDF (8.3 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Birds of the Athenian Agora By Robert D. Lamberton and Susan I. Rotroff As well as the Little Owl, or glaux, so often seen in company with Athena, many other birds played an important role in Greek art and symbolism. This booklet describes the ways in which the Greeks viewed birds, from useful hawks and fowl, to exotic parakeets and peacocks. Some of the most often depicted birds are imaginary; from the griffin to the 'phallos bird' whose head and neck consisted of an erect penis. The book ends with a birder's guide to species likely to be seen on a visit to the Agora archaeological park today. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 22, 1985) ISBN: 0-87661-627-9 Download PDF (9.2 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Ancient Athenian Building Methods By John McK. Camp II and William B. Dinsmoor Jr. While this booklet is illustrated solely with materials from the Athenian Agora, it also provides a concise introduction to building styles and techniques which will be useful to anyone interested in ancient Greek architecture. From financing to tools, and from mason's marks to the clamps that held blocks together, no detail is omitted in this well-illustrated text. The different parts of monumental buildings, from the foundations to the tile roofs, are all discussed with clear drawings to indicate how the whole was put together. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 21, 1984) ISBN: 0-87661-626-0 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Bronzeworkers in the Athenian Agora By Carol C. Mattusch The conspicuous Temple of Hephaistos, Greek god of metalworkers, high above the Agora reflects the esteem in which bronze workers were held by the Athenians. Although many of the objects these craftsmen produced have now been melted down, the statues, lamps and vessels that remain testify to the high standards they worked to. As well as illustrating some of the surviving finished products, the author discusses the techniques used to cast bronze, and the level of skill involved in producing complex metal statuary. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 20, 1982) ISBN: 0-87661-624-4 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Gods and Heroes in the Athenian Agora By John McK. Camp II Religion played a part in almost every aspect of civic life, so shrines, temples, altars and dedications are conspicuous at almost every turn during a visit to the Agora. The author of this booklet shows where and how the major Olympian gods were worshipped, and then turns his attention to lesser known deities, such as Hekate, the triple-bodied goddess of the crossroads. He argues that the cults of heroes, such as Theseus, one of the legendary founders of Athens, were much more popular than the official state cults worshipped in monumental temples. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 19, 1980) ISBN: 0-87661-623-6 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Mediaeval and Modern Coins in the Athenian Agora By Fred S. Kleiner From the thousands of pieces of late Roman 'small change' discovered trodden into beaten earth floors and dropped into wells, to the hoards of 19th Century AD silver French francs discovered beneath modern houses, many post-Classical coins have been discovered during excavations at the Agora. This booklet presents Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, Turkish, and modern Greek coins, with many examples illustrated in clear black and white photos of both obverse and reverse. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 18, 1978) ISBN: 0-87661-618-X Download PDF (7 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Socrates in the Agora By Mabel Lang As far as we know, the 5th Century BC Greek philosopher Socrates himself wrote nothing. We discover his thoughts and deeds entirely through the writings of his followers; disciples who accompanied him on his walks through the Athenian Agora or engaged in dialogue with him in the Stoa Baileios. Rather than examining his ideas in abstract, this stimulating little book aims to place Socrates in his physical setting, using textual references to follow his progress through the material remains still visible. The author not only sheds new light on the great philosopher's life, but also provides a vivid reconstruction, through following the career of one of its most famous citizens, of daily life at the center of Classical Athens. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 17, 1978) ISBN: 0-87661-617-1 Download PDF (8 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Greek and Roman Coins in the Athenian Agora By Fred S. Kleiner Over 75,000 coins have been found during excavations at the Agora, many minted in the city but others brought from Athens' far-flung commercial contacts. In addition to the mostly bronze and copper coins themselves, a building which may have served as the Athenian mint is described in this booklet. After describing the physical techniques of production, the author takes a chronological approach and the numerous black and white photos he uses as illustration make this concise guide a useful aid to the identification Greek and Roman coinage of lower value. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 15, 1975) ISBN: 0-87661-615-5 Download PDF (7 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Graffiti in the Athenian Agora By Mabel Lang "Return the stamnos to Philippa's brother Philip", "cheap wine", "Alkaios seems beautiful to Melis", "Of Tharrios I am the cup". Like fragments of conversation, the thousands of informal inscriptions scratched and painted on potsherds, tiles and other objects give us a unique insight into the everyday life of the Athenian Agora. Some are marks of ownership, or the notes of merchants, but many are sexual innuendos, often accompanied by graphic illustrations. Using her wide contextual knowledge, the author suggests why these scraps of sentences were written, and what they can tell us about one of the first widely literate societies. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 14, revised 1988) ISBN: 0-87661-633-3 Download PDF (6 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Early Burials from the Agora Cemeteries By Sara A. Immerwahr Before the creation of the Agora as a civic center in the 7th Century BC, the region NW of the Acropolis was a vast cemetery. Over 150 ancient burial places have been found by excavators and a few of the more remarkable are described here. These range from a wealthy Mycenaean chamber tomb, filled with the vases and jewelry of a rich noblewoman, to the poignant pithos burial of an infant from around 725 BC, accompanied by eight tiny vases. As well as describing the assemblages found, the author discusses the symbolism of funeral rites, and the information about social status and identity that burials reveal. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 13, 1973) ISBN: 0-87661-613-9 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

An Ancient Shopping Center: The Athenian Agora By Dorothy Burr Thompson As well as being a political center, the Agora was the focus of a noisy and varied commercial life. This booklet illustrates the archaeological, documentary and pictorial evidence for trades as diverse as shoe-making, fish mongering, cloth making, and the manufacture of luxury goods and perfumes. Shopping was just one aspect of this public space: Ancient Athenians would also have received medical treatment, been married and buried, made sacrifices, and received education in the Agora . . . and the material remains from these activities are also discussed. Vivid pictures and useful resources, like a table of prices and coinage, bring the bustling market-place to life. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 12, revised 1993) ISBN: 0-87661-635-X Download PDF (10 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Waterworks in the Athenian Agora By Mabel Lang Preserved beneath the surface of the Agora are thousands of terracotta pipes, stone drainage channels and lead pressure lines. These form a complex chain of waterworks, constructed and repaired over many different periods. This book discusses the complex engineering that channeled fresh water into the Agora and disposed of waste water, and shows some of the ornate wells and fountain houses where ancient Athenians gathered to drink and bathe. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 11, 1968) ISBN: 0-87661-611-2 Download PDF (12 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Inscriptions from the Athenian Agora By Benjamin D. Merritt Many types of written records are found in the Agora, and this booklet presents a sample from more than 10,000 inventoried stones. The texts illustrated include diplomatic agreements, commemorative plaques for athletic victories, records of court judgments, boundary stones identifying different buildings, and fragmentary inscriptions listing names (over 30,000 individual Athenians are now recorded). Even the problems faced by the librarians of the Library of Pantainos seem familiar: "No book shall be taken out for we have sworn an oath. Open from the first hour to the sixth." 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 10, 1966) ISBN: 0-87661-610-4 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Lamps from the Athenian Agora By Judith Perlzweig At night, the darkness of the ancient Agora would have been pierced by the lights of oil lamps, and thousands of fragments of these distinctive objects have been found. This booklet shows the development of different styles and includes a very useful identification guide. The author discusses the manufacture of lamps, a major industry with over 50 known Athenian workshops in the 3rd and 4th Centuries AD. She also provides illustrations of particularly fine examples, including ornate festival lamps with many nozzles and bizarre shapes. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 9, 1963) ISBN: 0-87661-609-0 Download PDF (12 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Garden Lore of Ancient Athens By Dorothy Burr Thompson, with Ralph E. Griswold In the spring, the ground of the Agora archaeological park is covered in poppies and daisies while poplars and oaks shade many of the pathways. Some of these plants are wild and some were deliberately introduced to Athens in Classical times. This booklet presents evidence for ancient horticulture in the Agora (for example, structured antique gardens were uncovered around the Temple of Hephaistos). Its color plates also provide a useful guide to identifying modern Greek vegetation. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 8, 1963) ISBN: 0-87661-608-2 Download PDF (8 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

The Middle Ages in the Athenian Agora By Alison Frantz The story of the Agora did not end in 267 AD, when the Herulians invaded the city. This booklet illustrates the ornate Early Christian carving and colorful green and brown-glazed pottery that distinguished medieval Athens. Finds and architecture from the private houses which covered the Classical remains are discussed, and the book ends with a survey of the Church of the Holy Apostles, the 11th Century church which stands at the SE corner of the Agora. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 7, 1961) ISBN: 0-87661-607-4 Download PDF (13 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Amphoras and the Ancient Wine Trade By Virginia R. Grace Athough this booklet is based on broken pottery found in the excavation of the Agora, the author ranges far beyond the confines of Athens in her discussion of the purpose and significance of different amphora types. She shows how chronological variations in shape and the geographical clues offered by stamped handles make amphoras a fascinating source of economic information. The book is illustrated with photographs of the many different forms of amphora found, all set into context by the well-written text. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 6, 1960) ISBN: 0-87661-619-8 Download PDF (15 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Ancient Portraits from the Athenian Agora By Evelyn B. Harrison Although the famous bronze statues seen by the Roman tourist Pausanias have been melted down, the Agora preserves a number of fine portraits in stone. Only a few of these are named, and most of the portraits in this book represent ordinary men and women; priests, athletes, and officials. Referring to over 40 black and white photos, the author discusses hairstyles, clothing and facial expressions that shed light on the individuals depicted. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 5, 1960) ISBN: 0-87661-605-8 Download PDF (11 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Miniature Sculpture from the Athenian Agora By Dorothy Burr Thompson Small sculptured figures of humans and animals have been found all over the Agora, ranging in date from the earliest occupation of Athens to the end of the Late Roman period. This booklet presents a representative sample of these figurines, ranging from elegant ivory figures of Apollo to small toy horses recovered from children's graves. Illustrated in black and white with almost 80 photographs. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 3, 1959) ISBN: 0-87661-603-1 Download PDF (10 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

The Stoa of Attalos II in Athens By Homer A. Thompson Named after its donor, the King of Pergamon, the Stoa of Attalos was originally built around 150 BC. Between 1953 and 1956 this long marble building was rebuilt by the American School of Classical Studies to store and display finds from the excavations. Using original materials and techniques, the modern builders learnt much about the construction and purpose of stoas, a ubiquitous Classical building type. This illustrated account presents some of their findings. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 2, revised 1992) ISBN: 0-87661-634-1 Download PDF (14 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books

Pots and Pans of Classical Athens By Brian A. Sparkes and Lucy Talcott By using images on vases with and comparing them with the ceramics recovered during excavations at the Agora, the authors show how different forms were used in Classical Athens. By linking the shapes of pots with their social functions, this book gives meaning to the list of ancient names (skyphos, olpe, kantharos, lekane, hydria, kylichnis . . .) that tend to turn museum visits into a blur. The book is illustrated with over 60 black and white photographs. 32 pp (Excavations of the Athenian Agora, Picture Book 1, 1951) ISBN: 0-87661-601-5 Download PDF (12 MB) Purchase from Oxbow Books