The Pnyx

Measurements: May - September 2002

The Hill of the Pnyx

The rocky hill is located to the west of the Acropolis between the Hill of the Muses and the Hill of the Nymphs. It was named Pnyx - from the word "πυκνός" (pyknos, dense) - because it was overpopulated.

The radius of the Pnyx, from the bema to the polygonal walls, is about the length of the Parthenon.

In historical times Pnyx was the meeting place of the Athenian ekklesia (assebly). The bema (step) was the

speakers' platform.

The length of the first step on the eastern side (facing the Parthenon) is 14 MC (1/100 of the radius-distance between Parthenon and this bema).