Many times we have walked around Athens and seen various places with a long and special history. One of these places is a point that you may have seen but not noticed much. It is the unknown point where the ancients cried.
It is the altar of the Twelve Gods. It is a significant monument of the Agora in the historical center that many Athenians do not know about. This place was the basis for measuring all the distances in Attica.
The reason why it is not known may be because of its location. It is partly hidden under the moat of the electric railway and hardly visible. This, along with our ignorance about it, makes it a small mystery for many people.
This sanctuary was believed to be a place of protection and a place where the Athenians cried. The altar of the Twelve Gods was the main refuge for the oppressed. Thucydides tells us that Pisistratos, son of Hippia and grandson of the famous Pisistratos, built a sanctuary in the agora for the twelve gods of Olympus, that is, the one we are referring to.
It is significant that even in the later Roman times it remained a place of refuge. This is why Pausanias calls it the Altar of Mercy. According to Philostratos, the Athenians revered the god Mercy as a thirteenth god. To this compassionate god, they gave no bloody or bloodless offerings but only their tears. Furthermore, the Athenians erected altars and honored Aido (Modesty), Ormi (Impulse), and Reputation (Glory), which is why the traveling Pausanias commends the Athenians and thinks that they are more fortunate than the other mortals.
The truth is that, by wandering around Athens, you uncover many new mysteries that you assumed were concealed in all these years.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Altar of the Twelve Gods is a significant monument located in the Agora of Athens, built by Pisistratos as a sanctuary dedicated to the twelve gods of Olympus. It served as a place of protection and refuge for the oppressed in ancient Athens and was also used as the basis for measuring all distances in Attica.
The Altar of the Twelve Gods is called the Altar of Mercy because it remained a place of refuge even during Roman times. According to Pausanias, the Athenians revered Mercy as a thirteenth god and offered only tears rather than bloody or bloodless sacrifices at this sacred altar.
The Altar of the Twelve Gods is located in the historical center of Athens within the Agora. It is partly hidden under the moat of the electric railway and hardly visible to passersby, which is why many Athenians are unaware of its existence and historical significance.
The Altar of the Twelve Gods was built by Pisistratos, son of Hippia and grandson of the famous tyrant Pisistratos. He constructed this sanctuary in the Agora as a place of protection for the oppressed people of Athens.
In addition to the twelve Olympian gods and Mercy as a thirteenth deity, the ancient Athenians erected altars and honored Aido (Modesty), Ormi (Impulse), and Reputation (Glory) at this sacred location, which impressed the traveler Pausanias who commended them for their virtue.
