Pnyx
Quick Summary
The Pnyx was a hill in Athens, Greece, that served as the meeting place for the Ecclesia, the assembly of Athenian citizens. This assembly, which could consist of up to 18,000 citizens, heard speeches from prominent Athenian orators. While the Pnyx could accommodate a large number of people, actual attendance at gatherings was typically less than 5,000. The Pnyx replaced the Theatre of Dionysus as the popular assembly's meeting place and was reconstructed multiple times, with a significant auditorium built in the 4th century BCE.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
AthensOther notable buildings…and the middle hill, the Pnyx (Tightly Crowded Together), the meeting place of the Ecclesia, the assembly of 18,000 citizens who heard the great Athenian orators. (In fact, attendance of more than 5,000 persons was rare at any gathering, but the Pnyx would still have been crowded.)
Read More…and the middle hill, the Pnyx (Tightly Crowded Together), the meeting place of the Ecclesia, the assembly of 18,000 citizens who heard the great Athenian orators. (In fact, attendance of more than 5,000 persons was rare at any gathering, but the Pnyx would still have been crowded.)
Read More
AthensAthens at its zenithOn the Pnyx, the broad-backed hill west of the Acropolis where the Athenian popular assembly had met since the reforms of Cleisthenes in the 6th century, a large auditorium was constructed. At the same time, two large stoas were started on the terrace above. The Theatre of…
Read MoreOn the Pnyx, the broad-backed hill west of the Acropolis where the Athenian popular assembly had met since the reforms of Cleisthenes in the 6th century, a large auditorium was constructed. At the same time, two large stoas were started on the terrace above. The Theatre of…
Read More