The stoa of Attalos

The Stoa of Attalos was founded around 145 BC by the Hellenistic monarch Attalos II of Pergamon (159-138 BC), who had studied in Athens in his youth, and had this beautiful building built as a thank you for the pleasant time that he had had there. Intended as a covered promenade and shopping center for the Athenian public, it has enjoyed great popularity for four centuries. It is striking how the lower part of the columns is not fluted, to prevent damage to it by shoppers.

 

Also this building was destroyed during the raids by the Herulians, and although the rear part was still in use by the Turks, most of the stoa material was re-used as building material for the  defensive wall to protect a small part of Athens from new raids of the barbarians.

 

The stoa which is completely rebuilded by American excavators, is now used to house the countless finds made on the agora. The most precious (or portable) finds are housed in the museum itself, while a variety of images can be seen under the roof. The building itself is therefore also known as the Agora Museum. Some images from under the canopy are shown below.

From left to right Aphrodite; a winged Nike and emporer Antoninus Pius (138-161)