Description of the attraction
Pnyx is a low and small rocky hill surrounded by a park. It is located in the center of Athens, just a kilometer from the western slope of the Acropolis and one and a half kilometers from Syntagma Square.
Back in 507 BC. the inhabitants of Athens gathered here to hold popular gatherings, so this hill can be considered the earliest and most important place for the creation of democracy. Such an assembly was called ecclesia (the highest body of state power, a popular assembly in ancient Greece). Usually the number of participants was 5-6 thousand, but when making the most important decisions, 10-15 thousand people gathered.
Already in ancient Greece, popular assemblies were guided by three basic democratic principles. The first principle of "isigoria" gave equal rights to citizens and the opportunity to express their opinion on political issues. The chairman began each meeting with the phrase "Who wants to speak?" The second principle of "isonomia" is equality before the law. The third principle of "isopolitia" meant equality in voting and the ability to be elected to any member of the assembly.
Despite the fact that in theory all citizens were equal and had the right to speak, in practice only a small number of citizens spoke and proposed concrete actions. The reason for this was that a citizen who proposed any action could be prosecuted in the future if his proposal was considered illegal or one that could harm the city. There was a rule that citizens over 50 had the right to be heard first.
Bem's oratory has survived to this day. Pericles, Aristides, Alcibiades, Themistocles, Demosthenes and other famous personalities stood behind her in ancient times.
The first excavations on the hill were started in 1910 by the Greek Archaeological Society and finally confirmed that this is Pnyx Hill. Larger excavations were carried out in 1930 and 1937. The altar of Zeus (just behind Bema) and the Sanctuary of Zeus were found. Rather, only their foundations have been discovered, while the structures themselves have not survived.
There was a prison on one of the slopes of the Pnyx. It is famous for the fact that one of the most famous ancient Greek philosophers Socrates was imprisoned here.
Today, Pnyx Hill is under the control of the Greek Ministry of Culture.
