The Poikile Stoa, one of the most renowned and luxurious buildings of Ancient Athens, is located at the northwest of the Ancient Agora. It was founded between the years 475 and 450 BCE, funded by Peisianax, a relative by marriage of Kimon. This is why, originally, the building was called the Stoa of Peisianax (Peisianactean Stoa). Shortly after its completion, it housed paintings, created by the most prominent artists of the time. Therefore, around the 4th century BCE, it was officially named “Poikile”, meaning painted and adorned with various decorations.

It is a large, spacious stoa, with its facade facing south, towards the Panathenaic Way, overlooking the Acropolis. Since only a part of it has been uncovered, its length is estimated to be over 36 metres, possibly much more, and its width approximately 12 metres. It had two colonnades, a Doric on the exterior and an Ionic on the interior. Only fragments of triglyphs and metopes from its upper structure have been preserved, primarily discovered embedded in later buildings. Its construction method reveals a meticulously crafted building, made of limestone, sandstone and marble.

Before the middle of the 5th century BCE, large wooden panels were placed on the walls of the Poikile Stoa, featuring paintings by renowned artists such as Polygnotus, Mikon, and Panaenus. According to Pausanias, who visited it in the 2nd century CE, the paintings depicted mythical battles (Fall of Troy, Amazonomachy) and military victories of the Athenians such as the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) and the Battle of Oinoe (460 BC). Pausanias also refers to spoils of war, military memorabilia that were on display – such as shields from Spartan prisoners from the battle of Sphacteria, as well as the statues of Solon and Seleucus I, that were placed in front of the building.

The Poikile Stoa was a secular building in which the crowd could be sheltered from the weather as well as engage in discussions in a sophisticated environment, the decoration of which would obviously be a stimulus for conversation. Occasionally, it served the needs of officials or state employees, but its primary function was as a meeting place for citizens to interact next to the Agora. The philosopher Zeno (334-263 BCE) taught in the Poikile Stoa, and, as a result, his students came to be known as Stoics.

During the raid of the Heruli, it is considered that the stoa did not suffer significant damage. In the 4th century CE, it stood in its place, while in the 5th century internal walls were erected, probably for the operation of shops. Its destruction appears to have occurred in the 6th century, marking the beginning of its dismantling for the repurposing of its architectural parts in other structures.