Poikile Stoa
The term "Poikile" meant colourful indicating that the stoa's name derived from its decoration, which was dominated by paintings with historical feats of the Athenians.
Modern and Contemporary era (1821 - )
Ottoman era (1453- 1821)
Byzantine era (331 AC- 1453)
400 μ.Χ. Around this time, according to Bishop Synesius, the paintings were removed by a Roman viceroy.
Roman era (30 BC- 330 AC)
Hellenistic era (322- 31 BC)
Classical era (478-323 BC)
475 BC Build between 475-460 BC by Kimon. The paintings were painted between 470- 460 BC.
Archaic era (800-479 BC)
Geometric era (-1100- 800 BC)
Prehistory (-1100 BC)
What I can see
Poikile Stoa (known also as Peisianaktios’ Stoa) was a large luxurious building made of limestone, sandstone and marble. It was built in the doric order with internal ionic collonade.
What I can't see
The term “Poikile” meant colourful indicating that the stoa’s name derived from its decoration, which was dominated by paintings with historical feats of the Athenians (e.g. The Battle of Marathon). These projects had been famous for centuries. Also trophies of Athenian victories were kept here, such as bronze shields which were covered with tar to protect them over time. One of them was found during an excavation. On the facade there was a doric colonnade and on the south side there was an internal ionic one. This is the first example of ionic columns in a doric building. This stoa was, among others, a favourite meeting place for many people, such as jugglers, beggers, fishermen etc, and a teaching place for philosophers, including Zeno of Citium. Thus arose the philosophical stream of “stoicism”, whose representatives taught and discussed in this stoa. It was also one of the locations where the Thirty Tyrants imposed the death penalty on hundreds of citizens. Nowadays, much of this important construction is under newer shopping buildings and only its western end has been revealed.
Bibliography
Archaeology of the city of Athens, (d.u.), Πεισιάνακτος ή Ποικίλη Στοά (475-450π.Χ.), [Pisianaktos or Poikele Stoa (475-450 BC], ΕΙΕ,
http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/gr/02_DELTIA/Poikile_Stoa.aspx
Last visit 21/9/2013
Foka Ι., Valavanis P., (1994), Περίπατοι στην Αθήνα και την Αττική, τόποι, θεοί, μνημεία [Strolls in Athens and Attica, places, gods, monuments], Kedros
Thompson H.A., Wycherley R.E., (1972), The Athenian Agora, results of excavations conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, v.6, The Agora of Athens, the History, shape and uses of an ancient city center, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Princeton, New Jersey
