Compare And Contrast Sparta Vs Agora

Everywhere one looks, remnants of past architectural innovations are present. Every building, and every area in the contemporary world has bits, and pieces that originated in the ancient world. These same ancient world architectural designs are still implemented in the modern world because of their structural integrity, cultural origins, and because of their aesthetically pleasing features. The Wentworth Quad, located in the heart of the Wentworth Institute of Technology campus, is similar to the Athenian Agora which is located at the core of Athens. Each space was used for a wide variety of recreational activities, and also to add a sense of separation from the crowded streets of a city. The two areas share many similarities, despite the fact

At around 600 BCE, public structures were being built around the Athenian Agora, and renovations, and improvements to these structures were made up well past the Hellenistic period (Fazio). Before these structures were erected, the Athenian Agora was a large, grassy, open area. The Agora’s main features, at its peak of development in 150 AD, included an altar to the twelve Greek gods to the north, the Stoa of Attalos to the east, two stoas (colonnades) to the south, and the Hephaisteion, the Metroon to honor Rhea, and the Stoa of Zeus around the Agora Hill to the west (“Athenian Agora”). Other buildings, such as a mint, magistrate’s offices, law courts, civic offices, a bouleterion (senate house), and council chambers were also uncovered surrounding the Athenian Agora. All of these buildings around the Athenian Agora vividly illustrate the vital role that it played in day-to-day Athenian life. Located in the core of Athens, the Agora was where “administrative, political, judicial, commercial, social, cultural,, and religious activities all found a place together” (“Athenian Agora”). Crossing through the Athenian Agora diagonally, is the Panathenaic Way, which led from north-west Athens to the

Academics, and learning can be both demonstrated in the Wentworth Quad—by a student—, and in the Athenian Agora, where philosophical revelations, and discoveries took place—by a philosopher. Aside from academia, the Agora of Ancient Athens was a place of commerce, and trade, and in comparison with Wentworth Quad, college students trade memories at Wentworth Institute of Technology, they trade insight on clubs, and activities, and they trade companionship between one-another. Each area is located in a busy city (during their respective primes), and are surrounded by all sides by relatively large structures that stand out against the empty, and grassy contrast. However, the Wentworth Quad is adjacently bordered by buildings that are composed of a multitude of architectural techniques, and designs, whereas the Agora of Ancient Athens is solely surrounded by buildings that exhibit the pinnacles of ancient Greek architecture. Elements of the Athenian Agora are present in the Wentworth Quad because the quad is surrounded traditionally by buildings on all sides, with footpaths in-between, the empty space of the quad accents the buildings surrounding it, it offers a sanctuary where one can participate in multiple activities, they are both flat, grassy areas, and they offer a sense of separation from the crowded