Ancient Agora

Ancient Agora stands in the centre of Kos, Greece, near the port and Neratzia Castle. This archaeological site preserves the former commercial and social heart of the ancient city. You can picture a triangular complex with walls, covered walkways, trading shops, public baths, temples and streets arranged on a grid.

The oldest visible remains date from the Hellenistic period, around 300 to 200 BC, while later construction continued through Roman and early Christian times. Earthquakes repeatedly reshaped the area, including major destruction in AD 142 and AD 469. Excavations began after the 1933 earthquake, revealing original ruins alongside reconstructed elements, mosaic floors, a paleochristian basilica and sanctuaries dedicated to Aphrodite and Heracles.

The visible section measures about 152 metres by 82 metres, although much of the ancient marketplace remains buried beneath modern Kos. Limestone marks the earliest buildings, while marble appears in more monumental structures from the second century BC. Among the discoveries is a statue of Hippocrates, standing alongside remnants of city walls and Hellenistic housing blocks.