Ekklesiasterion

In Ancient Greece, the ekklesiasterion (ἐκκλησιαστήριον) was the meeting place of the popular assembly (ekklesia) in a democratic Greek city-state (polis, plural poleis).

In a few poleis, the ekklesiasterion was a separate building, but in many cases the theater was used for both performances and the meetings of ekklesia.

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 the ekklesia was a convenient extra function.

A circular unroofed building with tiers of seating in Paestum, ancient Poseidonia, has also been identified as an ekklesiasterion.