Ancient Greece - Peloponnesian War

The Agora served as the civic center of Sparta, where citizens (mainly Spartiates) gathered for public meetings and to conduct daily business. Unlike the bustling agoras of other Greek cities, Sparta’s Agora was notably more austere and focused on practicality, reflecting the city’s emphasis on military and communal life. This was the place where Spartan leaders and citizens would discuss military strategy and make decisions that directly impacted Sparta’s role in the Peloponnesian War. It also hosted meetings of the Gerousia (Council of Elders) and the Apella (the assembly of Spartan citizens).

Wide stone square surrounded by solid, unadorned colonnades, with citizens in plain tunics engaged in serious discussion, and the stern figures of armed soldiers standing guard, under a cloudy sky.