The Esplanade of the Bule

To the north of the Agora and as an extension of it, there is an esplanade presided over by the Tholos of the Pantheon, and delimited to the north by a semicircular stoa with three portals, which served in its time to delimit a city that soon grew beyond it. This square is the traditional assembly for the citizens who are called upon to elect the Twelve wise men to govern them or to make important decisions for the city such as going to war or undertaking some great enterprise. The citizens spread out all over the esplanade to hear the rulers and discuss with them over the course of whole days in which they can approach at any hour and consult the scribes who sit in the stoa about what has been discussed. The assemblies can be convened by the Twelve, by the high priest of the Pyrgnos of Ephara or groups of 100 citizens. Also the appearance of Medomai in the Agora is usually sufficient claim to call the Assembly for its omens. Priests and magicians are in charge of facilitating voice to those who claim it and the words of the most illustrious philosophers are taken into account, as well as the most important oracular texts are read. The Pantheon leaves its doors open as a symbol of the participation of the gods themselves in the debate. It is traditional that the meeting begins after a ceremony of the priestesses of the Pantheon who go out from their enclosure to the temple opening the two great doors, after which the highest authorities and the citizens enter from the north door to pay honors to the gods, and then leave through the south door, thus beginning the Assembly.

The Tholos of the Pantheon is the temple to all the gods and here are found representations of all of them, except Klothys, whose respect is usually shown without specific worship or representations of any kind. The sculptures of the gods are distributed inside within large chapels in a circle around a central sculpture of Kruphix, with his open arms facing the door. A representation of Athreos is engraved on each door as the god of transits. Facing each other to the east and west are Heliod and Erebos, while the other gods share the rest of the other 12 niches. The floor and the dome are decorated with braided hair as the only reminder of Klothys and the destiny that moves us all. The chapels keep offerings from the citizens, and the priestesses of the Pantheon are in charge of the care of the images and the order in the Temple.

Type

Temple / Religious complex

Parent Location

City Center