In which building in the Agora did Pheidippides die on?

[davidmich]

Hi
I’ve searched high and low for any mention of the building in the Agora (as depicted in the painting) that Pheidippides according to legend is suppose to have died on. Which government building does the painting depict in the Agora?

Pheidippides

Painting of Pheidippides as he gave word of the Greek victory over Persia at the Battle of Marathon to the people of Athens.
Luc-Olivier Merson, 1869
I look forward to your feedback.

[davidmich]

@davidmich

Hi
I’ve searched high and low for any mention of the building in the Agora (as depicted in the painting) that Pheidippides according to legend is suppose to have died on. Which government building does the painting depict in the Agora?

Pheidippides - Wikipedia

Painting of Pheidippides as he gave word of the Greek victory over Persia at the Battle of Marathon to the people of Athens.
Luc-Olivier Merson, 1869
I look forward to your feedback.

In the Pnyx??

[Walken_After_Midnight]

Since there are three people seated on the dais, I expect they are supposed to represent the three Archons who governed Athens:

In Athens a system of three concurrent Archons evolved, the three office holders being known as the Archon Eponymos, the Polemarch, and the Archon Basileus. According to Aristotle’s Constitution of the Athenians, the power of the king first devolved to the archons, and these offices were filled from the aristocracy by elections every ten years. During this period the Archon Eponymos was the chief magistrate, the Polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the Archon Basileus was responsible for the civic religious arrangements. After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the Archon Eponymos.

The painting was created by a Frenchman in 1869, before the Agora and Pnyx were excavated, so I’m not sure if it’s historically authentic in its depiction. I can’t find any information about whether there was a specific place in Athens for the Archons to gather or sit, but it seems a reasonable assumption that they might have some honorific seating arrangements.

[davidmich]

@Walken_After_Midnight

Since there are three people seated on the dais, I expect they are supposed to represent the three Archons who governed Athens:
The painting was created by a Frenchman in 1869, before the Agora and Pnyx were excavated, so I’m not sure if it’s historically authentic in its depiction. I can’t find any information about whether there was a specific place in Athens for the Archons to gather or sit, but it seems a reasonable assumption that they might have some honorific seating arrangements.

Thanks Walden After Midnight. Very helpful.