agora

Other forms: agoras

In ancient Greek city-states, an agora was an important meeting place. The agora was used as a market, but it was also the primary location for gathering with friends, discussing politics, and observing religious ceremonies.

The agora of ancient Athens is often credited as the birthplace of democracy, since it was where philosophers first debated and discussed those concepts. Like agoras in other parts of Greece, it was the center of Athenian life. It served as the city-state's main marketplace, courtroom, polling place, and location for business meetings. The Greek agora means "an assembly of the people," from a root meaning "to gather."

Definitions of agora

1. noun

   the marketplace in ancient Greece
   type of:

   market, market place, marketplace, mart

   an area in a town where a public mercantile establishment is set up
2. noun

   a place of assembly for the people in ancient Greece
   synonyms: public square

   type of:

   market, market place, marketplace, mart

   an area in a town where a public mercantile establishment is set up