OVERVIEW
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 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 multiple 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 by 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 being read. The Tholos of 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.
Location Description
Outside
Approaching from the Agora to the north, you encounter the Estoa of the Bule, a semicircular stoa that once marked the boundary of a rapidly growing city. Its presence is commanding yet inviting, with three grand portals that beckon you closer. The air is filled with the murmur of anticipation, a sound that grows louder as you near the assembly space. The sight of the stoa, framing the esplanade and the Tholos of the Pantheon, creates a sense of historical significance and civic duty. The scent of the open air mingles with the subtle aroma of parchment and ink from the scribes’ tables, and the touch of the cool stone beneath your feet connects you to the countless citizens who have gathered here over the ages.
Inside
Inside the Estoa of the Bule, the atmosphere is charged with the weight of decision-making and democracy. The esplanade, sprawling before you, buzzes with the voices of citizens discussing important matters, their words echoing off the stoa’s walls. The touch of the smooth, worn stone of the stoa and the sight of scribes diligently recording proceedings immerse you in the sense of participatory governance. The Tholos of the Pantheon stands with its doors open, symbolizing the gods' involvement in the civic process.
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