InAncient Greece, theekklesiasterion (ἐκκλησιαστήριον) was the meeting place of the popular assembly (ekklesia) in ademocratic Greek city-state (polis, pluralpoleis).
In a fewpoleis, theekklesiasterion was a separate building, but in many cases thetheater was used for both performances and the meetings ofekklesia. In some cases, multiple locations were used. InAthens, the regular meetings of the assembly were held on thePnyx hill and two annual meetings took place in theTheater of Dionysus. Around 300 BC, all the meetings of theekklesia were moved to the theater. The meetings of the assembly could attract large audiences: 6,000 citizens might have attended in Athens during the fifth century BC. Hansen and Fischer-Hansen argue that theaters were primarily built for performances and that their use by theekklesia was a convenient extra function.[1]
Inpoleis which had a separateekklesiasterion, the building could take a variety of forms. Many consisted of steps built in the slope of a hill, similar to theaters but much smaller.Delos had a roofed building.[2] InMetapontum, it was a circular structure on flat terrain with elevated steps. A walkway intersected through the center, where a podium was placed. It could accommodate 7,500 to 8,000 people in the beginning of the fifth century BC, after it was expanded. Such a circular structure was unusual for its location inMagna Graecia. A circular unroofed building with tiers of seating inPaestum, ancient Poseidonia, has also been identified as anekklesiasterion. This is more likely abouleuterion however, because it could only seat 500 to 600 people in a relatively large city.[3]