Stoa Poikile

hall, Athens, Greece

Also known as: Painted Colonnade

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The Stoa Poikile, or Painted Colonnade, was a significant structure in ancient Athens, Greece. It served as a covered walkway or colonnade, providing a space for business and public promenade. This long, open building, supported by columns, was a notable secular construction in the Agora, the marketplace and civic center of Athens.12

The Stoa Poikile is particularly famous as the place where Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, customarily lectured in the early 3rd century BCE. The paintings adorning its walls, including one depicting the Battle of Marathon, made it a prominent landmark. The Stoa Poikile was part of a broader building program in Athens during its Classical period, funded by the city's wealth from silver mines and imperial tribute.324

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

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.

Athens
Athens at its zenith
…in the Agora, notably the Stoa Poikile, or Painted Colonnade, with its famous paintings by Polygnotus and Micon, one of which represented the Battle of Marathon. The Tholos, the round building that served as the headquarters of the executive committee of the council, was also built at this time. Lack…
Read More
…in the Agora, notably the Stoa Poikile, or Painted Colonnade, with its famous paintings by Polygnotus and Micon, one of which represented the Battle of Marathon. The Tholos, the round building that served as the headquarters of the executive committee of the council, was also built at this time. Lack…
Read More

Stoicism
Early Greek Stoicism
…of Citium (Cyprus), customarily lectured—the Stoa Poikile (Painted Colonnade). Zeno, who flourished in the early 3rd century bce, showed in his own doctrines the influence of earlier Greek attitudes, particularly those mentioned above. He was apparently well versed in Platonic thought, for he had studied at Plato’s Academy both with…
Read More
…of Citium (Cyprus), customarily lectured—the Stoa Poikile (Painted Colonnade). Zeno, who flourished in the early 3rd century bce, showed in his own doctrines the influence of earlier Greek attitudes, particularly those mentioned above. He was apparently well versed in Platonic thought, for he had studied at Plato’s Academy both with…
Read More

Micon
…the mural painting on the Stoa Poikile (“Painted Portico”) on the Agora at Athens and for the paintings at the Theseum at Athens. Micon and his teacher Polygnotus worked on the Stoa Poikile together, beginning shortly after 460 bc. While Polygnotus executed the central composition for the Stoa Poikile, Micon…
Read More
…the mural painting on the Stoa Poikile (“Painted Portico”) on the Agora at Athens and for the paintings at the Theseum at Athens. Micon and his teacher Polygnotus worked on the Stoa Poikile together, beginning shortly after 460 bc. While Polygnotus executed the central composition for the Stoa Poikile, Micon…
Read More