Pnyx -Pnyka

Pnyx

The Pynx is the monumental site in which functioned the democratic principles of equal rights under the law and of the democratic dialogue of the Athenians.

Zeus as protector of the state (Altar of Zeus Agoraios) and as healer (Shrine of Zeus Hypsistos) received the prayers of the assembly before the sessions began. The assembly (Ecclesia) of the people met ten times a year; there the chairman of the Prytaneis presided, assisted by a Secretary and a Herald, who made the announcements. The audience sat originally on the bedrock but later on wooden benches, while the orator spoke from the bema (speaker’s platform). At a lower level of this bema sat the Prytaneis, who, assisted by archers, kept order. From the bema of the Pynx famous politicians and orators such as Themistokles, Pericles, Demosthenes and Aischines addressed the Athenians.

The area, a semicircular amphitheatre in shape, 70m. in depth and 120m in diameter has strong retaining walls that support its perimeter. 

The site has been confirmed by the 5th century inscribed boundary marker;(hopos Πυκνός).
The monument has three building phases;
At the last phase,the 3rd, a new monument retaining wall with a stepped entrance at the center gave new dimensions in situ. Opposite the entrance the “bema” or simply “stone” was cut in the natural rock with three steps. To the same phase belong also the stoas to the east and west were never fulfilled due to the construnction of Diateichisma (wall) around 325 – 307 B.C.
The area of Pnyx was dedicated to Zeus as protector of constitution (Altar of Zeus Agoraios) and to Zeus Hypsistos as a god healer as it is shown by the niches of the rock (Sanctuary of Zeus Hypsistos)
The Pnyx was abandoned at the end of the 4th century B.C. when the meetings of Demos were transferred to the theater of Dionysos.