The Roman Forum of

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of ...

is the ancient Roman-era

forum Forum or The Forum (plural forums or fora) may refer to: Common uses * Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States *Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city **Roman Forum, most famous example *Internet ...

of the city, located at the upper side of

Aristotelous Square Aristotelous Square ( el, Πλατεία Αριστοτέλους, , Aristotle Square) is the main city square of Thessaloniki, Greece and is located on Nikis avenue (on the city's waterfront), in the city center. It was designed by French architec ...

. It is a large two-terraced forum featuring two-storey stoas, dug up by accident in the 1960s. The forum complex also boasts two Roman baths, one of which has been excavated while the other is buried underneath the city, and a small theater which was also used for

gladiatorial games A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...

. Although the initial complex was not built in Roman times, it was largely refurbished in the 2nd century. It is believed that the forum and the theater continued to be used until at least the 6th century. The area of the forum was planned to be the site of the Thessaloniki Municipal Courthouse (in

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

: Δικαστικό Μέγαρο), but after the ruins were discovered during the excavation, the project was scrapped. While the courthouse building was relocated, the intended name of the square ("Courthouse/Dikastirion Square") still survives in popular use. The official name of the square however is "of Ancient Agora (Archaias Agoras)".

Gallery

File:Αρχαία Αγορά-Ρωμαϊκό Φόρουμ, Θεσσαλονίκη.jpg, The Roman Odeon File:Στοά.jpg, Stoa File:Thessaloniki, Antike Agora - Forum Romanum (33954831198).jpg, View File:20160516 131 thessaloniki.jpg, View File:Αρχαία Αγορά Θεσσαλονίκης- Νότια Πλευρά.jpg, South view File:Thessaloniki, Antike Agora - Forum Romanum (47832109911).jpg, Glass artifacts exhibited in the forum`s museum File:Thessaloniki, Antike Agora - Forum Romanum (46915841915).jpg, Golden artifacts exhibited in the forum`s museum File:Πλατεια Δικαστηριων, Θεσσαλονίκη - panoramio.jpg, The square

Notes

{{Landmarks of Thessaloniki Ancient Roman forums Roman Thessalonica Buildings and structures in Thessaloniki Squares in Greece Tourist attractions in Thessaloniki Ancient Roman buildings and structures in Greece