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A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · Tomisti · CC BY-SA 4.0

Historic site · Athens

Stoa Poikile

Ποικίλη Στοά

Standing
Must see
Rank
Rank 77 of 4,207
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Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Stoa Poikile

The Stoa Poikile, or Painted Portico, was a Doric stoa erected around 460 BC on the north side of the Ancient Agora of Athens. It was built by Peisianax, a brother-in-law of Kimon, and was first known as the Peisianactean Stoa. It became one of the most famous sites of ancient Athens for the paintings and war booty displayed inside and for its link with philosophy: Zeno of Citium taught here from around 300 BC until his death c. 262 BC, and the school he founded was named Stoicism after the stoa. It also served as a law court and a venue for official arbitrations.

Checked 2026-11-05 · Source

A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 4.0
A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 4.0

What's inside

Inside the stoa hung painted tablets by Polygnotus, Micon and perhaps Panaenus; ancient authors singled out the painting of the Battle of Marathon. Bronze shields captured from the Spartans at Sphacteria in 425 BC were displayed there and could still be seen in the 2nd century AD. In 396 AD the paintings were reported to have been removed by a Roman governor, and the building was quarried for material in the sixth century. Today the excavated remains lie at the north-west corner of the Agora, on the north side of the Panathenaic Way: the back wall has been uncovered for 10.40 metres and the west side wall was 12.6 metres long.

Checked 2026-11-05 · Source

A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · Jean Housen · CC BY-SA 4.0
A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0
A photograph of Stoa Poikile
Photograph · Mark Landon (photographed in 1991; digitized in 2021) · CC BY 4.0

Place details and sources

Type of place
Archaeological site OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article
Stoa Poikile Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09

Common questions

Why is the Stoa Poikile linked to Stoicism?

Zeno of Citium taught there from around 300 BC until c. 262 BC, and his school was named Stoicism after the stoa.

When was the Stoa Poikile built?

Around 460 BC, on the north side of the Ancient Agora of Athens.

What was displayed in the stoa?

Painted tablets by Polygnotus, Micon and perhaps Panaenus, including the Battle of Marathon, and bronze shields captured from the Spartans.

Where it is

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Nearby

Within 3 min on foot
  • Temple of Hephaestus 45 min
    2 min walk

    Temple of Hephaestus

    • Must see · Heritage site
    • Historic site
  • Ancient Agora of Athens 1 hr 30 min
    3 min walk

    Ancient Agora of Athens

    • Must see · Heritage site
    • Historic site
  • Urban garden 2 hours
    3 min walk

    Urban garden

    • Notable
    • Nightlife venue

In Athens

Same category

Fit it into a plan

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Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·