Specific Buildings & Objects (2nd Exam) - Classics 311

Agora

The central public square where Athenians gathered for politics

Monument of the Eponymous Heroes

A monument displaying notices and announcements for each of Athens' ten tribes

Stoa Basileios

The "Royal Stoa

Bouleuterion

The meeting hall where the Boule (Council of 500) met

Tholos (Prytaneion)

A round building where members of the Boule on duty worked and dined

Hephaisteion

A well-preserved Doric temple dedicated to Hephaestus and Athena overlooking the Agora

Metopes (Hephaisteion)

Sculpted panels showing heroic myths

Kleroterion

A stone lottery machine used to randomly select jurors and public officials

Klepshydra

A water clock used to time speeches in Athenian courts

Boundary Stone

A stone marker showing the official limits of a sacred or public area

Athenian Acropolis

The fortified hill that served as Athens' main religious sanctuary

Propylaea

The grand entrance gateway to the Acropolis

Erechtheion

An unusual temple honoring Athena

Parthenon

The main temple of Athena Parthenos and the symbol of Classical Athens

Frieze (Parthenon)

A continuous sculpted band showing the Panathenaic Procession

Pediments (Parthenon)

Triangular sculptures showing Athena's birth and her contest with Poseidon

Metopes (Parthenon)

Sculpted panels showing mythological battles symbolizing order defeating chaos

Old Temple of Athena

An earlier temple to Athena on the Acropolis destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC

Temple of Nike

A small Ionic temple celebrating Athena as the goddess of victory

Pediments (Temple of Nike)

The triangular ends of the temple that likely showed scenes connected to Athena and victory

Athena Promachos

A giant bronze statue of Athena standing as the defender of Athens

Hecatompedon

An early large temple on the Acropolis that existed before the Parthenon

Artemis Brauronia

A sanctuary on the Acropolis dedicated to Artemis in her role connected to Brauron

Theater of Dionysos

The main theater of Athens where tragedies and comedies were performed

Road of the Tripods

A street lined with victory monuments awarded to successful chorus sponsors

Choregic Monument of Lysicrates

A monument celebrating a victory in a dramatic competition

Brauron

A sanctuary of Artemis where girls took part in religious rituals before adulthood

Amphiprostyle Temple

A temple with columns only at the front and back

Stoa (Brauron)

A long covered building where pilgrims gathered and stayed during festivals

Krateriskoi

Small decorated bowls used in rituals for Artemis at Brauron

Bears

Young girls who served Artemis by performing the "bear" ritual before marriage

Plague

A disease outbreak that affected Brauron and influenced religious practices there

Eleusis

The sanctuary where the Eleusinian Mysteries were celebrated

Kallichoron Well

A sacred well where Demeter was believed to have rested while searching for Persephone

Eschara

A low altar used for sacrifices

Greater and Lesser Propylaea

The monumental entrance gates leading into the sanctuary at Eleusis

Propylaea Caryatids

Female statue-columns decorating part of the entrance at Eleusis

Telesterion

The great initiation hall where the secret Eleusinian Mysteries took place

Piraeus

The main port of Athens and center of trade and naval power

Kallithea Monument

A funerary monument near Piraeus commemorating the dead

Suburban Theater

A theater outside Athens used for local performances and festivals

Bronze Theater Mask

A bronze mask connected with theatrical performances or dedications

Aegina

An island near Athens known for trade and the Temple of Aphaia

Temple of Aphaia

A famous Doric temple on Aegina dedicated to the goddess Aphaia

Bomos

A sacrificial altar; at Aegina

Krater

A large bowl used for mixing wine and water at a symposium

Oinochoe

A wine jug used to pour mixed wine into drinking cups

Hydria

A three-handled water jar used for carrying and storing water

Kline

A couch used for reclining while eating and drinking at a symposium

Amphora

A two-handled storage jar used to transport or store goods like wine and oil

Kerameikos Amphora

A large funerary amphora from Athens