Izmir (Smyrna) Agora

The İzmir (Smyrna) Agora is located in the Namazgâh district of İzmir. Situated at the heart of ancient Smyrna, it functioned as a commercial, political and social agora. The site is laid out in a planned manner, featuring a large central courtyard surrounded by colonnaded galleries and a basilica.

Agora (Photo: Meryem Şentürk Çoban)

History and Development Through Periods

The initial construction of the İzmir Agora took place at the end of the 4th century BCE, shortly after the time of Alexander the Great. It underwent structural modifications during the Hellenistic period, but its major renovations occurred during the Roman Imperial period. The agora assumed its present form toward the end of the 2nd century CE and the beginning of the 3rd century CE, and retained its general structure until at least the 7th century CE.

During the Roman period, the agora was significantly renovated and continued to function as a public center with its colonnaded galleries and basilica, both constructed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.

Although Smyrna lost much of its importance during the Byzantine period, the agora and its surroundings remained in use as a public space. In the Ottoman period, various structures were built on top of the agora, but these were largely uncovered during excavations carried out in the modern era.

Architectural Features

The agora consists of four colonnaded galleries and a central courtyard. The main structures revealed through excavations are as follows:

• Basilica (North Gallery): The basilica, where public and commercial activities took place, is notable for its colonnaded architecture. The building underwent major renovation during the Roman period and acquired a multi-story form.

• West Gallery: The extensively excavated West Gallery served as a commercial area within the agora.

• Mosaic Building: Located west of the West Portico and south of the Bouleuterion, this structure is particularly notable for its mosaic floor pavements. Two distinct mosaic layers have been identified; the first dates to the late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, while the second layer belongs to the 4th century CE.

• Colonnaded Courtyard: The large open space at the center of the agora, surrounded by columns, served as a venue for social and commercial gatherings.

Excavations and Archaeological Finds

The first excavations at the agora were initiated in 1932 by Selahattin Kantar and Rudolf Naumann, but were halted in 1941. Between 1996 and 1998, the İzmir Museum conducted intermittent excavations, and continuous excavation work resumed in 2002. Since 2007, excavations have been carried out under the leadership of Akın Ersoy on behalf of Dokuz September University.

During the 2002–2003 excavations, a total of 913 coins were recovered. These include 13 coins from the Hellenistic period (330–30 BCE), 52 from the Roman Imperial period (27 BCE–284 CE), 699 from the Late Roman Imperial period (284–498 CE), 9 from the Byzantine period (491–1453 CE), 27 from the Ottoman period (1299–1923 CE), and 1 coin from the Austria Empire (1816 CE).

During excavations at the Mosaic Building, two distinct stratigraphic layers were uncovered. The first layer of mosaics dates to the 2nd–3rd centuries CE, while the second layer belongs to the 4th century CE. The mosaic designs include geometric patterns and vegetal motifs.

In addition, Ottoman and Europe ceramics were found within the agora area, providing important clues about how the site was used in daily life during the Ottoman period. The ceramic finds include Ottoman kitchen items, imported European porcelain, and everyday vessels.

Ottoman Tombstones

During excavations at the İzmir (Smyrna) Agora, Ottoman-era tomb tombstones were also brought to light. These tombstones date to the 18th and 19th centuries and are notable for their inscriptions and decorative elements.

A tombstone found at the agora. (Photo: Meryem Şentürk Çoban)

These tombstones feature inscriptions crafted in Ottoman hat art, with some displaying motifs of mosques and cityscapes. Made of marble, some of these tombstones are in excellent condition, with their inscriptions largely legible.

^【1】

The majority of Ottoman-period finds uncovered during excavations indicate that the agora was also used as a burial ground during the Ottoman era. Additionally, Ottoman-era ceramics have been found around some of the tombstones, suggesting that the burial areas were situated within or adjacent to areas of daily life.

The Ottoman tombstones at the Smyrna Agora are among the significant archaeological finds reflecting the aesthetic and epigraphic characteristics of the period. These stones provide insights into the social structure, cultural fabric, and burial traditions of İzmir during the Ottoman era.

The İzmir (Smyrna) Agora was an important political and economic center in antiquity. The structure, built in the 4th century BCE, experienced major development during the Roman period and adapted to changing uses during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Ongoing excavations continue to uncover new information about the history and architecture of the agora.