The Agora of Smyrna

The Agora of Smyrna. . , English Text, The agora of Smyrna was the city's administrative, political, judicial, and commercial center. It was located in the center and covered a rectangular area in conformance with the gridiron plan of the city., Remains found in the agora and scientific excavation work carried out here have led to the conclusion that the agora was built at the end of the 4th century B.C. and that it was one of the earliest construction projects of the new city. From the Hellenistic period onwards the Agora was rennovated stage by stage, and additions and alterations were made. The Agora took its present form by the end of the 2nd beginning of the 3rd century A.D. and it preserved this general character until at least the 7th century A.D., The Agora was founded on sloping terrain and by means of vaulted basement stories built on the western and northern wings, the courtyard area was turned into a level terrace. All four sides of this area were surrounded by columned galleries (porticoes). These columned galleries (porticoes) were semi-enclosed structures built to protect people from sun, rain, and excessively hot or cold weather.