<Location> Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece
<Also Known As> Skias, Tholos PrytanikonThis circular structure was built at the beginning of the Classical period (470-460 BC), and it was used as the dining hall and maybe dormitory for the Prythaneion. This was also where the original measure and weight were guarded. As you see in the photo, now only the circular base remains.
The Plytaneion itself must have been one of the most ancient public buildings in Athens, although we don't know precisely when it was constructed.
Aristotle explains about the Plytaneia system in his The Constitution of the Athenians, 43-44, but its interpretation is not always unanimous. The system must have started as a part of the Reform of Kleisthenes (508/507 BC). With this the Athenian Council (Boule) became a body of 500 representants, and every 50 of them took charge of the day-to-day state administration in turn for 35 to 39 days. These 50 were called "Plytaneis" (chairman). During the period, these men were supposed to serve ffull-time. As it was an impossible burden for the working class people, to enable them to assume the responsibility, the State payed their expences providing them with food at this place.
Next to the Tholos, there used to be the Beuleuterion (the Council House), but now almost nothing of it remains.
