The word agora, meaning “open gathering place” in Greek, can be considered the city’s public square. Agoras were central areas in Ancient Greek cities where citizens gathered, discussed city matters, and conducted trade.
Smyrna Agora suffered significant damage during the earthquake of 178 CE and was restored with the support of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. The remains seen today during visits to the Agora belong to this period.
As the city’s importance diminished over time, the population decreased, and the Agora lost its original function. During the Middle and Late Byzantine periods and the Ottoman period, the courtyard of the Agora was used as a cemetery. Excavations at the Agora began in 1933, and through ongoing archaeological efforts, many structures surrounding the Agora have also been unearthed.