During my journey to the ruins of ancient Ephesus, I spent a night in the Turkish city of Izmir. While perusing the list of local museums to decide where to visit, I came across an intriguing site—the ancient Roman Agora of Smyrna. The name of this ancient monument might not be familiar to every reader, but now I'll share everything I managed to learn about it.
How to Reach the Museum
The attraction is located in the center of Izmir. I was staying nearby, so I walked to the site. The entrance is conveniently situated close to metro and tram lines, making it easily accessible by public transportation.
In the summer of 2023, the admission fee for the open-air museum was 100 Turkish liras.
A Bit of History
In the past, agoras were squares where the public assemblies of citizens took place. Often, temples, workshops, and important governmental institutions surrounded the perimeters of agoras.
Smyrna was the name given to the city that once stood where modern Izmir is located. Smyrna was founded in the second millennium BCE, later destroyed and rebuilt. In the first half of the 15th century, this territory came under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
So, the Agora of Smyrna is the former city square with the ruins of structures that once stood here. This area served as the administrative, judicial, and commercial center of the city. The agora resembled a courtyard surrounded by porticos. The covered galleries of the complex provided shelter from the scorching sun and rain. The Agora is considered a monument of the ancient Roman period. In Byzantine and Ottoman times, the former agora was used as a cemetery.
Archaeological excavations on the site of the Agora of Smyrna began in 1932, making them among the earliest such efforts in the Republic of Turkey.
A significant part of the former agora is occupied by the ruins of a basilica located in the northern part of the complex. This building once housed trading and judicial rooms. The approximate dimensions of the structure are 161 by 29 meters, and it is considered one of the largest basilicas of the ancient Roman period. Today, the ancient ruins of the building are one of the main attractions of the complex, where tourists capture unique photographs.
This concludes my account, and next time, we'll venture to an observation deck with a lift. It is located away from the center of Izmir, but it offers a breathtaking view of this coastal metropolis.
Have a nice trip!
