The Pnyx

“He who is contrary to a tyrant is called the people” Thucydides

The heart of the democracy of ancient Athens beat definitely at the Pnyx. The Pnyx was the place where all the well-known politicians, orators and ordinary citizens that we know from the history books delivered their speeches. It was a rocky hill of utmost significance, both for its sanctity and for the decisions taken there in times of peace and at war.

The hill west of the Acropolis was used for gathering of the Athenian deme since the 6th century BC when the politician Cleisthenes made radical reforms in favor of the people of Athens. The reduction of powers of the aristocracy paved the way for a new form of government- Democracy, with common people having governance power for the first time in human history. The word comes from dêmos '(common) people' and krátos 'force/might'. Democracy was based on the 3 axioms: isegoria, isonomy, isocracy (equal rights of speech, law, and the right to be elected).

The expansive view towards the Acropolis and the Agora, the social and commercial center of the city, as well as the geomorphology of the site (the flat and elevated ground), gave the orator the impression that he was speaking to the entire city. The Pnyx, as a meeting point of the Athenian Assembly, went through three phases of development from the end of the 6th century. B.C.. up to the middle of the 4th c. B.C.. Today, we see remnants of its last phase, with the orator's podium, the stoae (collonade) and the impressive supporting stone wall.

The Pnyx was a holy place- dedicated to Zeus, the protector of the Athenian democracy. A great altar of Ζeus Agoraios was used for sacrifices before gatherings of the Athenian Assembly. In the Roman period the Pnyx was dedicated to Zeus Hypsistos, a god of healing. 

Another important remnant of the site was the Sundial (helioskopion) of the great astronomer, mathematician and engineer Meton from Athens. It was built in the 5th c. B.C. and it was used by ancient astronomers to observe the position of the Sun, the Moon and other astronomical objects.

The Pnyx today is a public park, a recreation space for the residents of Athens  where they can walk and admire the view of the Acropolis and the beauty of the surrounding area. In this Thematic Exhibition we explore the Pnyx via engravings, paintings, architectural drawings, maps and photographs of the site and the excavations that took place there.