What I can see

On the southwestern side of the Ancient Agora we see a square enclosure, which can be accessed from the five steps on its northern side. On the eastern side there was a smaller entrance. So far, written sources do not provide any information about the building. All we know is what we have learned from archaeological findings and any conclusions are open to debate.

What I can't see

Based on its architecture, the building could have been a sanctuary or a temple. However, the absence of an altar or any offerings does not support this hypothesis. The wall was probably high enough to deter intruders. The space it occupies in combination with its position, indicate that it was a public building, probably a court house, because of its large number of members who would have needed a large building to cover their needs (821 sq.m.). If this hypothesis is correct, then this enclosure once housed the Heliaia, the main Athens court. The Heliaia was a jury court where all Athenian citizens over the age of 30 were allowed to participate. There were a total of 6,000 judges working in smaller departments.

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