Research in Context
The park of Ancient Agora.
Mediterranean tree species.
The trees in the park of Ancient Agora are of particular interest. They are slow growing species, typical of the Mediterranean climate region. Since they have been planted seventy years ago, in the mid-fifties, they have now attained considerable dimensions and a single leader structure.
Many of these species have been cited and recommended in recent literature as resilient trees for the future. They should be considered for testing and production, either for cities in Greece or Europe (France, Italy, Balkan peninsula) that are expected in the next decades, to emulate current weather conditions in Athens.
Image source: Linda Gerbec 2022. The landscape of the park as viewed from the temple of Hephaestus toward the Acropolis. Unsplash [Online]. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-landscape-with-trees-and-buildings-5cqVixZHVqY
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Tree and shrub species in the landscape of Ancient Agora
BROADLEAF
Species Family
Arbutus andrachne Ericaceae
Ceratonia siliqua Fabaceae
Cercis siliquastrum Fabaceae
Ficus carica Moraceae
Laurus nobilis Lauraceae
Myrtus communis Myrtaceae
Olea europaea Oleaceae
Phillyrea latifolia Oleaceae
Platanus occidentalis Platanaceae
Platanus orientalis Platanaceae
Punica granatum Lythraceae
Quercus coccifera Fagaceae
Quercus ilex Fagaceae
Quercus ithaburensis
subsp. macrolepis Fagaceae
Vitex agnus-castus Lamiaceae​
CONIFERS
Species Family
Cupressus sempervirens Cupressaceae
Juniperus spp Cupressaceae
Pinus halepensis Pinaceae
PALMS
Species Family
Phoenix dactylifera Arecaceae
History of the creation of the Garden
The American landscape architect Ralph Griswold designed the landscape in collaboration with archaeologists from the American School for Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA). He also collaborated with agriculturalist (and AUA academic) Emmanuel Vathis in the selection of the plants. Over the course of a decade, Mr. Vathis not only was instrumental in the selection of the plants, all native of the Attic flora but saw through the implementation of the project, intervening to ensure the good establishment and maintenance of the plants (Giannarou 2003, Vathis 2002, Panagopoulou 2025).
NOTES
​Some of the species are also considered native in other countries and regions beyond the Mediterranean. For many of the above species, information is included in the website pages of the tree survey section, such as a) distributions b) recommendations in recent literature and c) images.
Website pages
Near East to Central Asia
Europe to Caucasus
Mediterranean
Oak trees group
REFERENCES
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BOOKS
Théophraste, Suzanne Amigues, and Paul Bernard. 2010.
Recherches Sur Les Plantes À L’origine de La Botanique.
Paris: Belin.
Thompson, Dorothy Burr, Ralph E. Griswold, and American School of Classical Studies at Athens. 1963.
Garden Lore of Ancient Athens.
Princeton, New Jersey: American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
https://archive.org/details/gardenloreofanci0008amer/
​
Vathis Emmanuel. 2002.
The Plants in the Park of the Ancient Agora
Athens: Agricultural University of Athens.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Kathimerini’s electronic edition.
Giannarou Lina. 2003.
Botanical paintings of plants that once flourished in the Ancient Agora park. (August 23, 2003).
​
Efsyn, electronic edition.
Panagopoulou, Vasi. 2017.
With the eyes of Emmanouil Vathis. (April 23, 2017).
https://www.efsyn.gr/nisides/107744_me-ta-matia-toy-emmanoyil-bathi
​
Efsyn, weekend edtion
Panagopoulou, Vasi. 2025.
The plants of the park of Ancient Agora. (December 6 and 7, 2025).