agora (agora)

[ ket-place, ing to the Roman forum. The agora usually occupied the site about the original public fountain or well of a settlement, which was the natural place of reunion for the inhabitants. It was often surrounded by colonnades and public buildings; sometimes public buildings and temples stood within it. In some instances a large open space was reserved for public meetings, and the remainder was variously subdivided for purposes of traffic. It was customary to erect in the agora altars to the gods and statues of heroes and others, and sometimes, as at Athens, it was adorned with alleys of trees.