| With the gradual decline of the monarchy | | | | The altar is cut perpendicularly from the body of |
| beginning in the eleventh century BC the power | | | | the rock and forms a natural background to the |
| of the citizens in creased and their Public | | | | three steps on which it stands. The top step, |
| Assembly which had hitherto met in the Agora | | | | used as a bema, was spacious enough to allow |
| transferred its seat to the Pnyx. Every Athenian | | | | the orators to move about freely while |
| in possession of full civic rights was entitled to | | | | addressing the Assembly. The bema was |
| participate in the deliberations of the Assembly. | | | | enclosed by a balustrade, as can be deduced by |
| During the debates every citizen had the right of | | | | the sockets in the bedding. |
| addressing the meeting but he could speak only | | | | The swarm of citizens jostled their way through |
| once (and for a limited time) at each session. | | | | the sole entrance, a very narrow one on the |
| The constitution and laws promulgated here were | | | | west, (hence the name Pnyx, dense or crowded), |
| of the greatest moment to the Hellenes and, with | | | | where were stationed the six registrars, assisted |
| the spread of their civilization, to the whole of | | | | by thirty lesser officials, whose duty it was to |
| mankind. On this historic rock were first | | | | prevent the entry of unauthorized persons. |
| recognized the principles of freedom, speech and | | | | After a certain hour the police drew ropes dipped |
| assembly. Thus the Pnyx is the cradle of true | | | | in red paint across the Agora and all other |
| democracy and the world's parliamentary system. | | | | approaches to the Pnyx. All latecomers, in |
| A semi-circular double terrace facing the Acropolis | | | | particular those marked with this paint, were |
| 70 m. in width by 119 m. in length, is built on the | | | | refused the ticket entitling them to admission; |
| north-east slope about 28 m. from the top. Here | | | | thus the poorer citizens forfeited the silver coin |
| was the meeting place of the Assembly. The | | | | -an obolos- which was paid to them on |
| upper part of the terrace is hewn in the rock | | | | presentation of their tickets at the close of each |
| while the lower is supported by a massive | | | | meeting, while the richer members were |
| retaining wall. In antiquity this wall was considerably | | | | compelled to pay a fine. |
| higher than its existing 5 m. and supported an | | | | In the face of the scarp, about 12 m. east of the |
| embankment which ran level from north to south, | | | | bema, are more than fifty small rectangular |
| contrary to its present downward inclination, the | | | | niches, with the exception of a large central one |
| reason for the existing slope is to be found in the | | | | presumably intended to hold a cult statue of Zeus |
| crumbling of some of its courses. | | | | Hysistios, in which were placed votive offerings to |
| Here a cube of rock approximately 3.40 m. | | | | the same god. A large terrace was leveled in the |
| square, standing on a base of three steps, | | | | rock above the bema. Here on either side of the |
| projects from the center of the semi-circle and is | | | | foundations of a monumental altar are seats cut |
| approached by short stairways cut in the rock on | | | | in the rock for the president and other important |
| either side. This cube is probably the primitive altar | | | | officials. On the support wall facing the bema the |
| of Zeus Agoraios on which sacrifices were | | | | Athenian astronomer Meton erected the first |
| offered before the convening of the Assembly. | | | | sundial in 433 BC. |