Pnyx

The Pnyx is a low rocky hill directly west of the Acropolis and counts as the birthplace of Athenian democracy. After the reforms of Cleisthenes around 508 BC the Ekklesia assembly met here, with up to 6,000 citizens taking part; Pericles, Demosthenes and Aeschines spoke from the surviving stone speaker's platform. The site was rebuilt three times before assemblies moved to the Theatre of Dionysus around 330 BC. Today the Pnyx is a freely accessible area with pines, low wall remains and a magnificent view across to the Acropolis - and is often almost empty.