The Stoa of Attalos: Athens’ First Shopping Center

The Construction of the Stoa by King Attalos II of Pergamon

A Gift to Athens

The Stoa of Attalos was built between 159 and 138 BCE as a gift from King Attalos II of Pergamon, who had studied in Athens. His donation reflected the deep cultural and intellectual ties between Pergamon and Athens, reinforcing the city’s status as the intellectual and economic center of Greece.

Architectural Features

• The Stoa of Attalos was a remarkable example of Hellenistic architecture, being more elaborate and expansive than earlier Athenian buildings.
• It measured 115 by 20 meters (377 by 66 feet) and was constructed using Pentelic marble and limestone, materials also used for the Parthenon.
• The two-story structure stood out, as most earlier stoas in Athens had only a single level.
• The ground floor’s exterior colonnade featured Doric columns, with the interior colonnade using Ionic columns, a combination common since the Classical period. On the upper floor, the exterior colonnade was Ionic, while the interior was Pergamene, showcasing a refined blend of architectural styles.
• Each floor had two aisles and 21 rooms along the western wall, serving as shops on the ground floor. These rooms were vented through doorways and windows on the back wall.
• Staircases at each end provided access to the upper level, where the layout mirrored the lower floor.
• The spacious colonnades served as a covered promenade, while the row of 42 closed rooms at the rear ground floor functioned as shops, making the Stoa of Attalos a precursor to modern shopping centers.

This design was inspired by a similar stoa built by Eumenes II, Attalos’ brother, near the Theatre of Dionysus, with the main difference being the addition of these enclosed shops in Attalos’ stoa.

Commercial and Social Functions in Ancient Athens

The Stoa of Attalos was one of the busiest locations in ancient Athens, combining commerce, intellectual exchange, and civic life under one roof.

A Marketplace for Trade

• The shops on the ground floor sold pottery, textiles, jewelry, and other goods, making it a prime location for merchants.
• Artisans and craftsmen used the space to display and sell their wares, attracting both locals and visitors from across Greece.
• The covered colonnades provided shade and shelter, allowing trade to continue regardless of the weather.

A Hub of Intellectual and Civic Life

• The stoa was not just a shopping center—it was a public gathering space, where Athenians engaged in philosophical and political discussions.
• Citizens debated current events, exchanged ideas, and conducted informal meetings, much like people do in modern cafés and plazas.
• The stoa was located near important government buildings, including the Bouleuterion (Council House) and Metroon (State Archive), making it a key location for political and social activity.

Destruction and Reconstruction: From Ruin to Museum

The Herulian Invasion and the Fall of the Stoa

• In 267 CE, the Germanic Herulians invaded Athens, destroying much of the city, including the Stoa of Attalos.
• Over the centuries, its ruins were repurposed for other buildings, leaving only fragments of its original structure.

Rebuilding the Stoa in the 20th Century

• In the 1950s, the American School of Classical Studies, with funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, fully reconstructed the stoa.
• The new structure was based on ancient descriptions, excavation findings, and surviving foundations.
• Today, the Stoa of Attalos Athens is one of the few fully reconstructed classical buildings, offering visitors a rare opportunity to experience an ancient structure as it once stood.

The Stoa of Attalos as a Museum Today

The Museum of the Ancient Agora

The Stoa of Attalos Athens now houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora, which offers a fascinating collection of artifacts related to Athenian democracy, commerce, and daily life.

What to See in the Museum

• Statues and inscriptions detailing political and social events from Athens’ history.
• Pottery and tools used by ancient craftsmen and merchants in the Agora.
• Official decrees and legal documents, providing insight into the functioning of Athenian democracy.
• A scale model of the Agora, allowing visitors to visualize the city’s layout in antiquity.

Walking through the Stoa of Attalos Athens, visitors can step into the past and imagine the bustling activity of merchants, thinkers, and politicians who once gathered there.

Conclusion

The Stoa of Attalos Athens was more than just a marketplace—it was a center of commerce, conversation, and culture. Built by King Attalos II, it provided Athenians with a modern, covered shopping space, fostering both economic growth and intellectual exchange.

After its destruction in the 3rd century CE, its faithful reconstruction in the 20th century transformed it into a museum, preserving the legacy of Athenian democracy and public life. Today, it remains one of the most significant and well-preserved examples of ancient Greek commercial architecture, allowing visitors to walk through history itself.