What is the Pnyx ancient Athens?

The Pnyx was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly (ekklesia). In the earliest days of Athenian democracy (after the reforms of Kleisthenes in 508 B.C.), the ekklesia met in the Agora. Sometime in the early 5th century, the meeting place was moved to a hill south and west of the Acropolis.

Who spoke at the Pnyx?

Famous orators such as Pericles, Aristides and Alcibiades spoke here, within sight of the Parthenon, the temple of Athena on the Acropolis, at the vema or bema, the “stepping stone” or speakers’ platform, about 3 m.

What was the purpose of an Athenian Kleroterion?

A kleroterion (Ancient Greek: κληρωτήριον) was a randomization device used by the Athenian polis during the period of democracy to select citizens to the boule, to most state offices, to the nomothetai, and to court juries. The kleroterion was a slab of stone incised with rows of slots and with an attached tube.

Where was the Pnyx meeting place in ancient Athens?

Sometime in the early 5th century, the meeting place was moved to a hill south and west of the Acropolis. This new meeting place came to be called “Pnyx” (from the Greek word meaning “tightly packed together”.

What was the purpose of the Pnyx in ancient Greece?

The wall featured seven towers set with 40-meter interval while the connecting walls were strengthened by buttresses. The Pnyx was the official meeting place of the Athenian democratic assembly ( Ancient Greek: ekklesia ). In the earliest days of Athenian democracy (after the reforms of Kleisthenes in 508 B.C.), the ekklesia met in the Agora.

How did Pnyx hill in Athens get its name?

The word Pnyx (ancient Greek: Πνύξ) is believed to be derived from the adjective πυκνός (pyknos), meaning dense. According to this etymological theory, the hill came to be called so owing to the large concentrations of people that gathered there to attend the popular assemblies.

How did the people get to the Pnyx?

Citizens were called to the assembly by archers, who stretched a braided rope to guide them to the Pnyx. The rope was marked with red paint, which rubbed against stragglers and marked them so they were not paid the nominal stipend for attending.