The Government Agora
There is a broad space accessed via a few stairs lying directly to the west of the Stoa Basilios. The construction of this Government Agora, initially founded in the Late Hellenistic Period, was completed late Augustan Period. The east side of this Agora area, which is supported by ashler stonework from the west, was leveled and the structure was 160 meters long and 58 meters weight, being added to from the west. In ancient times the Agora was the central place in the city where religious and political meetings and debates to place the important issues of the city were discussed and resolved and from where the city was administered. There are the fountains of Laecanius Bassus Hydrekdocheion and Domitianus located at the end of the South Stoa and in the south west corner of the Government Agoras terrace wall. The Khalkidikum is situated at the end of the north stoa and infront of the terrace wall adjacent to the Fountain of Domitianus, while the three-nave Stoa Basileios is to the north of the Agora. In the South Stoa, dating from the first period of construction, there are two gates with two naves constructed in the Doric order. In addition there is an entrance to the Agora from the east corner of the South Stoa and the Doric gate from the south street. Today on the two Doric order supports from the gate walls are extant. The pediment, which was adorned with aegis reliefs, defined a gate structure with a tall and brought proof, supported by four columns in the Doric order. The columns, barrel vaults and supports remain in their original locations. From its architectural style it’s taught this Doric gates dates from around the 2nd or 1st century BC. From this gate structure, it is possible to pass in to the Doric style to nave South Stoa of the government Agora. There are today only a limited number of architectural remains from this stoa. The rare wall is preserved in a good condition and has an extensive marble bench in front of it. Some traces of another badly preserved Doric gate, which opens to Domitianus street from the west corner of the South Agora, were found in these excavations. Initially there was only one stoa with one nave on the northern sight of the Government Agora. In the 2nd face, contemporary with the Southern Stoa, the Northern Stoa had a hall with single-nave columns and a small chamber in the western corner. Later many architectural modifications were made to this stoa. The western edge of the North Stoa extended in parallel to the Cortage Path which crossed this area.