© 2019 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
Coming off of our exploration of the Hill of the Muses or Philapappou Hill, we continued walking the paths of the city’s alluring green space, making our way from one hill to the next…the Pnyx.
The birthplace of democracy.
From 508 BC, Pnyx Hill was the meeting place of the Democratic Assembly. Citizens assembled here ten times a year to make political decisions and take note of the orators speeches, including those of Aristides, Demosthenes, Pericles and Themistocles.
As I walked from Philapappou Hill, I encountered a small rocky hill surrounded by parkland. A large flat platform of eroded stone was set to one side with steps carved into the slope. The podium, or Bema, offered a raised area for leaders to address the crowds who were seated in a semicircle, first on the ground and then later on wooden benches which were installed to accommodate the growing crowds.
The first question posed to the crowd was always an open invitation, “Tis agoreuein Bouletai?”
“Who wishes to speak to the assembly?”
As the acceptance of democracy spread, crowds grew from 5,000 to more than 13,000, finally outgrowing the Pnyx and moving to the Theater of Dionysus at the base of the Acropolis.
The Bema is cordoned off for protection, however, make sure to climb to the top area where you can find the former locations of the Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos, the Altar of Zeus Agoraios and Meton’s Solar Clock.
As we continued on toward the exit of the Pnyx, we located the retaining Wall of Pnyx built during the Hellenistic period and which offered protection to the area. Other items of interest, not to be missed, are the Sanctuary of Pan and the Fountain of Pnyx.
The Sanctuary of Pan was a religious shrine on the south slope. Not one to display monumental or architectural embellishments, it was a simple chamber which exhibited a relief, representing semi-God Pan, a naked Nymph and a dog. Outside of the doorway of the shrine, an ancient mosaic is protected by plexiglass.
The Fountain of Pnyx is also located nearby, and dates back to the 6th century. This fountain is a rock-carved cistern which collected and stored water for the city of Athens. Though you are unable to view it up close, the chamber is covered with a mosaic floor.
Though we viewed both of these from outside the park’s gates, this seemed to offer the best viewing area.
Since the both hills, Philapappou and Pnyx, are connected, make sure to continue your walk to encounter all that both have to offer. You can even continue up to Nymph Hill which houses the National Observatory during the evening hours.
If time is not of the essence and you’ve seen Athen’s major sights, it is worth the time to take a leisurely walk and encounter many of Athens off-the-beaten-track bits of history.
For more pictures check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instgram, @snappingtheglobe.
Pnyx Hill
- Address: Athens 117 41, Greece
- Hours: 24 hours, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: Metro, Thission stop
- Sanctuary of Pan
- Address: Apostolou Pavlou 1, Athina 118 51, Greece
- Hours: 24 hours, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: Metro, Thission stop
Fountain of Pnyx
- Address: Apostolou Pavlou, Athina 118 51, Greece
- Hours: 24 hours, daily
- Admission: free
- Getting There: Metro, Thission stop