Research in Context
The park of Ancient Agora.
Observations from the Tree Survey
The park of Ancient Agora is an interesting case study for resilient species. Most of them are linked to the Mediterranean and the region extending from Middle East to the plateaus of Iran. They are slow-growing and sclerophyllous and they have endured since their initial planting in mid-1950s.

PLANT SPECIES

Pistacia atlantica
Ancardiaceae

Mount Atlas Mastic trees can be found as specimen trees near the temple of Hephaestus and other locations in the park.
Reference in the works of Theophrastus:
"The wood of the terebinth is also very black and close-grained; at least in Syria they say that it is blacker than ebony, that in fact they use it for making their dagger handles; and by means of the lathechisel they also make of it 'Theriklean’ cups, so that no one could distinguish these from cups made of pottery; for this purpose they use, it is said, the heart-wood, but the wood has to be oiled, for then it becomes comelier and blacker...." Theophrastus, Enquiry into Plants, book 5 "Of the Timber of Various Trees and its Uses", chapter 3, section 2. (transl. Arthur Holt)
Corresponding notes by Suzanne Amigues
"The pistachio from Syria is probably Pistacia atlantica Desf. much larger in all its parts than the Mediterranean P. terebinthus L.) (see note 121 in III, 15, 3). The latter nevertheless presents the characteristics attributed here to the pistachio wood without distinction of species. The «cups of Thericles» which were made from them must have had the deep black and pure lines of ceramic vases from the hands of the Corinthian potter Thericles, a contemporary of the comic poet Aristophanes (end of the 5th century BC)." (Amigues 2010).

Pistacia lentiscus
Ancardiaceae

A large number of mastic trees are found in the park, either as shrubs or in arboreal form. Though they resprout from the base, their single trunk composure is preferred.

Phillyrea latifolia
Oleaceae

A number of green olive trees is found in the park as a shrub or in arboreal form. It is often difficult to distinguish from Rhamnus alaternus. The latter is also present in the park, similarly as a shrub or a small tree. This kind of difficulty may apply to ambiguities in Theophrastus and other texts. (Amigues 2010, pages 203-204, notes 56 and 57).
Myrtus communis
Myrtaceae





Anemone coronaria
Ranunculaceae
Poppy Anemone, Windflower
A tuberous, deciduous herb with finely divided leaves. It appears from January to April (Vathis 2002).

Limoniastrum monopetalum
Plumbaginaceae
Limoniastrum
An evergreen shrub of the Mediterranean with oblong-lanceolate leaves. Its violet flowers appear from June to July (Vathis 2002).
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
While plants of the species presented, thrive and have yet considerable expectancy, others have not survived. Either their expectancy is past the seven decades or due to vulnerabilities. Some plants of tolerant species though, may have been replanted to substitute losses in plant material.
However this is a study that if undertaken by a horticulturalist would provide interesting data. A significant factor to take into account, would be past green spaces management practices. Records of maintenance could be complemented with evaluation of satellite/air images over the years.


Palm trees had been among the initial plantings. In the past 20 years though, the palms Phoenix canariensis in Athens have been decimated due to the outbreak of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus). Nevertheless, seven decades is a time interval past the species' expectancy.
Losses were observed in other palm species as well such as Phoenix dactylifera.


Remnant trunks of Robinia pseudoacacia. Also other species from the initial plantings do not survive in the park like Sophora japonica.


Pine trees (Pinus halepensis), cypresses, silver poplar and Judas trees on the edge of the park, toward the train rails.

Carob trees (Ceratonia siliqua) thrive in the park and blend with the olive trees.
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
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
​
BOOKS
Théophraste, Suzanne Amigues, and Paul Bernard. 2010.
Recherches Sur Les Plantes À L’origine de La Botanique.
Paris: Belin.
​
Theophrastus, and Arthur Hort. 1948.
Theophrastus Enquiry into Plants and Minor Works on Odours and Weather Signs with an English Translation by Sir Arthur Hort, Bart.
London: William Heinemann Ltd.
https://archive.org/details/theophrastus-enquiry-plants-loeb/
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).
