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The old Bouleuterion, a simple structure at the west side of the Athenian
Agora, east of the Tholos, dates from the end of the 6th century BC.
It was used to accommodate the members of the Boule, a council with major advisory,
legislative and administrative responsibilities in the Athenian Democracy.
The building consisted of a large, oblong ante-chamber, and a rectangular main
hall with a capacity of 700 persons. A colonnade which had the shape
of the Greek letter "Ð" supported the roof.
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Old Bouleutirion
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The Boule (Council) included 500 representatives, 50 from each of the ten
"tribes" of Athens created by Kleisthenes at the end of the 6th century BC.
Any citizent over 30 could be a member of the Boule, his tenure
lasting one year. The Boule was closely connected to the Ekklesia of
Demos, as one of its main duties was to prepare the issues and laws that
would be put to vote at the assembly of citizens.
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The New Bouleuterion was built to the west of the older one, in the late 5th century BC, in order to serve the expanding needs of
the state. It was rectangular, with windows and amphithetrically
arranged wooden benches. The overall building complex included a monumental
propylon (gateway) built at the same period as the New Bouleuterion. After
the construction of the New Bouleuterion, the old one was used as a storeroom for
state archives and, probably, for housing and it also accommodated the sanctuary of the Mother
of the Gods.
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New Bouleutirion
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