Izmir Agora Archaeological Site

The Agora is the heart of ancient Smyrna, set in the Kemeraltı quarter of Izmir's Konak district between the bazaar and Kadifekale. In Hellenistic and Roman times it served the city's administration, trade, social life and religion. Much of what stands today dates from the 2nd century AD. The word agora means a city square or marketplace, and this one is counted among the largest and best-preserved of the Ionian agoras.

It was laid out in three levels according to the Hippodamian city plan, and is a rectangular complex whose courtyard was framed by columns and arches, with a staircase in front. Early digs in the north-west part of the building were carried out in 1932-1941 by R. Naumann and S. Kantar. Excavations resumed briefly in 1996-1998 for Izmir Museum and again from 2002.

Finds include reliefs of the goddess Vesta from the north gate, linked to the Zeus altar reliefs from the early digs, along with statues of Hermes, Dionysos, Eros and Herakles and many figures of men, women and animals. Inscriptions from the site describe help given to the city after the earthquake of AD 178. It is a spacious spot to sense the scale of Roman Smyrna.