Kos Ancient Agora

Location: Town

The Ancient Agora of Kos, Dodecanese: Ancient Agora (Ancient Market) is an imposing excavation area where a number of temples, baths, and houses with remaining mosaics, columns, and other pieces of construction belonging to several periods have been found. So, in this case, the market has a lot more to reveal that a simple marketplace. The Ancient Market is a large excavation area, with many interesting historical and architectural findings. For example, ancient Market has part of a wall made of large stones, that counts on 80 meters long by 2,5 meters high.

From the external side of this wall, there used to begin an Eastern arm for the harbor protection. This arm was also taken advantage of in architectural terms, as it was used for supporting a colonnade of 50 meters length with a row of precincts. These columns date around the 4th and the 3rd centuries BC and they were partly restored during the Roman period.

As it was customary in old European constructions, the remains of the columns were then covered by a basilica during the early days of Christianity, which included a baptistery that was named the seven steps of Agios Ioannis. On the other hand, outside this wall, there were some buildings related to the harbor operation, some of them indispensable and others not so much, including some churches.

The ancient Market itself was a market that took advantage of its location next to the harbor, as it was ideal for trading and for general movement, to the point that Agora used to be center of Kos. Some of the most recent findings are 80 meters wide by 300 meters length buildings, with a large stairway that still keeps their impressiveness, leading to an inner yard. There are also two restored columns that give the idea of a portico.

In addition, Ancient Market has also some ruins of an Aphrodite Shrine, as well as a small temple, seemingly in the honor of Hercules, and a Christian Basilica dating from the 5th century; all of them facing north. Some other findings are the mosaic floors of some precincts, which date from the 3rd century BC and a statue of Hippocrates. There are also other interesting findings inside the above mentioned Aphrodite Temple. According to what has been established, the oldest parts of the ancient market date from the 3rd century BC approximately.

The Ancient Market excavation area is placed in the eastern area of Kos, to the south of the castle of Kos. As an interesting piece of information for tourists, it is necessary to add that it offers a great panoramic view. In case of visiting the place late in the afternoon or in the first hours of the evening, it is good to know it is next to the street where Kos nightlife takes place, called The street of the bars.