Old Bouleuterion at the Ancient Agora of Athens

The ancient Bouleuterion was identified thanks to an inscription found on its original site. From an architectural point of view, it is an unexceptional building; however, this structure housed the first democratically elected “boule” (council) of ancient Athens. The discovery of an Archaic marble “louterion” (a type of vessel) with the inscription “ΒΟΛΕΥΤΗΡΙΟ” (Bouleuterion) very close to the building has allowed this room to be identified with the city’s first Council House; It was probably built specifically to house the Boule of the 500, founded after the reforms of Cleisthenes in 508/507 BC.

It continued to fulfil this function until the late 5th century BC, when the New Bouleuterion was built (possibly after the events of 413/412 BC). From then on, it was used as a place to store the city’s archives and to worship the “Mother of the Gods”, until it was replaced by the Hellenistic Metroon in the 1st century BC.

It was surveyed by the German Archaeological Institute in 1895-1896 and by the Archaeological Society of Athens in 1907-1908, but was not properly identified. It was excavated by the American School of Classical Studies in 1934-1935. Almost nothing remains of the superstructure. Part of the foundations of the walls and the floor have survived, which has made it possible to represent its layout.