|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction
The humanities as a discipline originated in the study of classical culture, and Athens was the center of that culture throughout much of antiquity. The excavations of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA), conducted in the Agora since 1931, have brought to life all the various activities of the heart of this city, from its first stirrings in the prehistoric period down to its demise during the Late Roman Empire. Scholars have also collected a copious supply of literary and epigraphical sources for the Agora, supplementing the archaeological material and making possible a complete picture of this critical site in the history of Western civilization. Much of this research lies buried in sources available only to specialists, and yet the results are of sufficient importance and interest to merit a far larger audience.